KYTC D9 Update 5:30 PM: Snow cover remains on roads, crews will keep plowing
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018) — State snowfighters remain in plows again tonight, battling snow covered roadways across northeast Kentucky in the wake of an overnight winter storm.
While late-day sun has helped in some areas, temperatures plummeting to near zero tonight means roadways are likely to refreeze, and will not be completely clear until later in the day Wednesday.
As of 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16, road conditions on I-64, the AA Highway and most main Priority A routes range from slushy or partly covered to clearing in Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties.
Conditions along the Ohio River from Maysville to Greenup, where as much as 5 to 8 inches of snow fell, are worse with some Priority A routes like KY 7, KY 11, KY 32 mostly to partly covered. On some four-lane highways like US 23, only the slow lane is clearing with slush in wheel tracks.
As snow showers continued throughout the day, crews concentrated on main routes. Some Priority B and C routes were plowed, but remain mostly covered with snow. Current air temperatures are averaging 9 degrees with pavement temps in the teens, and falling.
Crews will remain on 12-hour shifts and will keep plowing overnight in an attempt to remove as much snow cover as possible from all roadways.
However, as the National Weather Service predicts single-digit temperatures nearing zero, salt will be ineffective. Refreezing of slushy roadways is likely. Motorists should expect slick travel conditions to continue through the night and into Wednesday morning.
Remember: If you don’t have to travel, don’t. If travel is necessary, motorists should use caution, take it slow, leave a safe space between vehicles, leave early to arrive safely, and wear seat belts.
You can learn more about Kentucky Transportation Cabinet snow removal efforts, and view snow removal priority routes, online at http://SnowKY.ky.gov. Follow snow plow activities and check real-time traffic reports at http://GoKY.ky.gov.
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