District 5 Snow and Ice Information

About District 5

It’s snow and ice season, and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews are ready to respond to winter weather to help keep Kentuckians safe on the roads.

Preparation for winter weather begins months before the first snowflake falls. Our dedicated “snowfighters” and support staff have spent months completing readiness checks, training, and equipment maintenance to ensure everything is in top condition. Crews have also stocked essential materials, including salt, to efficiently treat and clear roadways when winter weather hits.

In District 5, KYTC is responsible for maintaining approximately 3,500 single-lane miles of roadway across Bullitt, Henry, Franklin, Jefferson*, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. *In Jefferson County, all KY and U.S. routes are maintained by the Louisville Metro Government.

Additionally, nearly 600 single-lane miles of interstate in Jefferson County fall under the Cabinet’s responsibility. Keeping these roads clear and safe is a top priority, especially during winter weather events.

KYTC has approximately 150 state and contract snow-and-ice trucks on standby, ready to salt and plow roadways as conditions require. Of those, approximately 50 trucks are dedicated exclusively to Jefferson County.

Current Road Conditions

Winter weather can affect driving conditions. Visit snowky.ky.gov for safe driving tips, informational videos, our GoKY map of real-time traffic information, and more!

Priority Routes

KYTC's snow removal process follows a four-tier priority route system to ensure resources are directed where they’re needed most, based on traffic volume and access to critical services. Each roadway is assigned a priority level, ranging from Priority IP—covering interstates and parkways—to Priority A, B, and C routes. This tiered approach allows crews to deploy efficiently and keep travel as safe and accessible as possible.

Priority IP: Interstates and Parkways

Priority A: Major routes with the highest traffic volume. While all roads are treated during a winter storm, these receive top priority with a goal of a two-hour turnaround during a routine winter storm.

Priority B: Highways that are not as heavily traveled as 'A' routes are treated next. All Priority B routes should be fully treated during a routine winter storm, with a goal of a 4-hour turnaround.

Priority C: Mainly rural and other low-volume routes are third on the list. The cabinet's goal is to treat Priority C routes within 16 hours of the beginning of a routine snow event. Due to storm conditions, crews may refrain from winter maintenance activities along C routes during overnight hours.

On average, crews can complete a full pass on their assigned routes in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.* Timing may vary depending on factors such as time of day, traffic volumes, road conditions, and whether crews are plowing, salting, or performing both operations. Snowfall and precipitation rates also impact response times, as heavier accumulation may require additional passes or slower operating speeds. During an emergency event, such as heavy snowfall, timing may vary.

KYTC stays in close coordination with the National Weather Service's local meteorologists and receives up-to-the-hour weather reports to determine the best timing for mobilizing resources.

Our mission during winter weather events is to keep traffic moving safely by prioritizing

mobility along key state-maintained corridors through established priority routes.

Priority Maps

Click on a county below to see the priority routes: