The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has established priority routes for snow and ice removal for the upcoming winter season in the 10 counties that make up the Department of Highways District 10.
KYTC is responsible for keeping more than 1,800 miles of state-maintained roadway in the district passable in inclement weather. This amounts to nearly 3,800 lane-miles of highways that must be treated and plowed during each snowstorm. (One mile of two-lane road equals two lane-miles; one mile of four-lane highway equals four lane-miles). KYTC sets snow removal priorities according to the amount and nature of traffic on the routes within each individual county.
Priority A routes include major through routes and are those most heavily traveled in each county. They include parkways and other major arterial routes. Under normal winter weather conditions, the goal is for non-Interstate Priority A routes to be plowed and treated within two hours of the beginning of the storm, with the process repeated every two hours.
Priority B routes include other important but lesser traveled routes in each county. The goal for plowing and treating these highways is every four hours.
Other state-maintained roads not fitting into either of the two higher categories fall into Priority C. The goal for these roads is to plow them at least once every eight hours, and to treat problem areas in the same time span. In some cases, Priority C routes may not be completely treated until other higher priority routes are cleared.
These turnaround times are goals established in Transportation Cabinet policy, but individual circumstances relating to each weather event may impact whether or not these goals are achieved. Plowing and treating schedules may be impacted by the severity of the storm or other factors. During light snowfalls, crews may be able to treat all roads within a county more rapidly. Heavier snows, or varying weather conditions in different areas of each county, may impact this schedule.
"Last year was a challenge for our snow removal team,” said Corbett Caudill, chief district engineer for the Department of Highways District 10. “We had more snow and colder temperatures than we have had for the past several years, and by the end of winter, we were running low on salt. We learned several lessons last winter that we will apply to our snow removal efforts this year. Our crews have already responded to a couple of light snowfalls, so we are ready for the worst of winter when we will get more frequent and heavier snows.”
“The Transportation Cabinet recognizes how important roadway conditions are to Kentucky motorists,” Caudill continued. “We are dedicated to keeping state highways clear and safe for travel. Our snow removal crews will work long, hard hours during the winter to keep our highways passable."
"We ask drivers to be patient during snow removal operations," Caudill added. "Drivers should slow down, keep an eye out for snowplows, and remember to buckle up to ensure their safety. Our crews will work as fast as they can to clear the highways."
Again this year, District 10 will use Twitter and Facebook to provide updates on road conditions when weather-related emergencies occur. These social media outlets are available on home computers and Internet-enabled smartphones.
“Every winter, the number of our social media followers grows,” Caudill said. “Several media outlets in our area forward our road condition reports to their own followers, which helps spread the word and aids travelers during bad weather. We urge motorists to check these sources before they leave home to know the status of our highways during winter weather events.”
Motorists may also dial 511 to hear traffic and travel information. Signs have been erected throughout the 10 counties of District 10 to promote the 511 service.
Snow removal priority routes for each of the district’s 10 counties are:
Breathitt County
Priority A: KY 15, KY 30 and KY 52.
Priority B: KY 28, KY 205, KY 315, KY 476, KY 1110 and a portion of KY 1812.
Priority C: All other routes.
Estill County
Priority A: KY 52, KY 82, KY 1571 and portions of KY 89 and KY 499.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 89, KY 213, portions of KY 594 and KY 851, KY 1457 and KY 1705.
Priority C: All other routes.
Lee County
Priority A: KY 11, KY 52 and a portion of KY 587.
Priority B: A portion of KY 399, KY 498, a portion of KY 708, KY 1144, KY 2016 and KY 2017.
Priority C: All other routes.
Magoffin County
Priority A: Mountain Parkway, US 460, portions of KY 7 and KY 30, KY 40 and KY 114.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 7 and KY 30, KY 134, KY 404, KY 1081, KY 1188, KY 1888 and KY 2019.
Priority C: All other routes.
Menifee County
Priority A: US 460 and KY 36.
Priority B: KY 77, a portion of KY 713, KY 746, KY 946, KY 1274, KY 1693 and KY 3328.
Priority C: All other routes.
Morgan County
Priority A: Mountain Parkway, US 460, KY 7, a portion of KY 172, KY 203, KY 205 and KY 519.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 172, KY 134, KY 191, KY 705 and KY 1010.
Priority C: All other routes.
Owsley County
Priority A: KY 11 and portions of KY 28 and KY 30.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 28 and KY 30, KY 708 and KY 846.
Priority C: All other routes.
Perry County
Priority A: Hal Rogers Parkway, KY 7, KY 15, Business KY 15, a portion of KY 28, a portion of KY 451, KY 476, KY 550 and KY 699.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 28, the remainder of KY 451, KY 463, KY 1088, KY 1146, KY 1165 and KY 3351.
Priority C: All other routes.
Powell County
Priority A: Mountain Parkway, KY 11, KY 82 and a portion of KY 213.
Priority B: KY 15, KY 77, the remainder of KY 213 and KY 1057.
Priority C: All other routes.
Wolfe County
Priority A: Mountain Parkway, KY 11, a portion of KY 15, KY 191, KY 203 and a portion of KY 205.
Priority B: The remainder of KY 15, the remainder of KY 205, KY 715, KY 746 and a portion of KY 1010.
Priority C: All other routes.
Story provided by The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
