KYTC District 1 Snow and Ice Team Gear Up for Approaching Winter Storm

KYTC District 1 Snow and Ice Team Gear Up for Approaching Winter Storm
Crews plan to report early Friday morning as first snow falls
PADUCAH, KY (Jan. 9, 2025) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 1 snowfighters are preparing for a 4-to-8-inch snowfall across the region, forecast to arrive early Friday and continue throughout the day.Crews continued pre-treating state highways today. It takes approximately two full days to pre-treat all highways in the district, so crews have been working diligently since Tuesday to prepare the roads and keep Kentuckians safe ahead of Winter Storm Cora.Crews have focused on covering as many road miles as possible during daylight hours over the last three days when air and pavement temperatures were optimal for spraying brine.The KYTC District 1 supertanker was also used to pre-treat along Interstate 24 and Interstate 69. The supertanker is assigned to four-lane highways and sprays along a single lane of highway while driving at interstate speeds, which helps to avoid a slowdown of traffic. The supertanker holds 5,000 gallons compared to 1,100 on a regular spray truck and can cover about 115 lane miles per tank before needing to re-fill.The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all counties in District 1. The latest forecast indicates snowfall amounts are likely to be heavier to the south, but the Western Kentucky region as a whole is expected to see accumulating snow ranging from 4 to 8 inches. Bands of heavier snowfall could impact travel Friday morning through Friday evening.Crews plan to report very early Friday morning with staggered start times based on forecast snow arrival times and will work in shifts throughout the winter weather event. Please maintain a safe distance when you encounter snowplows and other heavy highway equipment and do not pass snowplows on the shoulder.The KYTC District 1 Snow & Ice Team will be actively monitoring weather conditions hour by hour and will adjust response strategies for area highway crews as needed.As a reminder, the U.S. 45 Ohio River "Brookport" Bridge in Paducah is closed until further notice due to icing.  Motorists should detour via the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge. KYTC District 1 will provide a timely update when it reopens.