Contact: Sara George, Information Officer
Highway District 12
109 Loraine Street
Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
606-433-7791
Toll-Free 877-433-7791
Mobile: 606-434-3688

HIGHWAY DISTRICT 12 – February 18, 2009 – Debris removal along state right of way began in Johnson and Martin counties this week. Three contractors for Highway District 12 have until April 6 to dispose of all storm-related debris. FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) will reimburse the state for most of the cost associated with storm debris removal.

Hubbard Trucking of Flat Lick, Kentucky , and Virginia Turf of Norfolk , Virginia , will each have two crews in Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, and Floyd counties. In addition, Mullins Enterprise of Pikeville has two crews in Johnson County .

Two state-owned dump and burn sites, one on KY 645 in Lawrence County , and one in Johnson County on KY 3, are in operation. More than 6,000 trees either broke or were uprooted and blocked state roads in Johnson County . “The state has about 227 miles of road in Johnson County ,” said Sara George, district information officer. “That's about eight trees per two-lane mile. You can see why it's taken so long to chain saw our way out of such a mess.” George noted that those figures do not take into account county roads or private property, only state-maintained roads and bridges.

State highway workers are cleaning up rockfalls and small slides that followed storms which traveled through Eastern Kentucky during the past several weeks. As water freezes to become ice, it expands. According to Eric Thomas, Director of the East Kentucky Science Center in Prestonsburg, water is the only known non-metallic substance that does this (expands as it gets colder).

Thomas explains that the expansion of water as it freezes is how nature breaks down rocks. Know as “ice wedging” or “frost wedging,” water seeps into cracks in the rocks (or pavement), freezes, and expands, forcing the rocks apart. When the water melts, the crack is just a little wider than it was before. The next time this happens, the crack gets even wider. Eventually the rock breaks into smaller pieces and tumbles downhill. Ice wedging is part of winter's freeze and thaw cycle, one that causes a safety problem along our roadways.

Traffic signals took as big a hit as the roads, according to Keith Coleman, traffic technician supervisor for District 12. His report to Chief District Engineer Kevin Damron listed the following damages in Letcher, Pike, and Floyd counties as of February 17. The itemized list for Johnson, Martin, Knott, and Lawrence counties is still being compiled.

Pike County

1. Flashing beacon US 23 at Robinson Creek completely destroyed.

2. Nine sign hangers on US 23 at Coal Run completely destroyed.

3. Five signal heads on US 23 at Coal Run: three repaired two temporarily repaired and will need to be replaced.

4. Several signals on flash; all were repaired.

5. Two heads damaged on US 119 at Town Mountain ; need replacements.

6. One head damaged on US 119 at Harvey Street Bridge , South Williamson; needs replacement.

Floyd County

1. School flasher on KY 321 at Prestonsburg High School completely destroyed.

2. Power outage KY 80 at KY 1210; signal restored 2/13/09 at 9:00 p.m.

3. Heads turned on US 23 at Allen; new heads held up but the swivels gave way. Repaired on site.

4. Head turned on US 23 at Bays Branch. Repaired on site.

5. Head damaged on US 23 at Harold; needs replacement.

Letcher County

1. Sign hanger broken on KY 15 at Wendy's. Replaced.

2. Power outage KY 15 at KY 931; power restored at approximately 1:30 a.m. on 2/12/09.

3. Power outage KY 15 at middle signal; power restored at approximately 1:30 a.m. on 2/12/09.

At the time of the Wednesday, February 11, wind storm, Coleman estimated that there were more traffic signals malfunctioning on US 23 in Pike, Floyd, and Johnson counties than there were working signals. Signals were operating properly by Friday evening.

Chief District Engineer Kevin Damron said a total estimate is not yet available of how much it will cost Highway District 12 to recover from the January-February ice, snow, and wind storms. “We still have to get repair or replacement estimates on signs, more traffic signals, and things like ditchline and culvert cleaning. Our priority right now is storm recovery work. Fortunately FEMA is helping with the bulk of the cost of debris removal, which may end up being our biggest expense.”