State snow and ice crews ready to go

 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet maintenance crews are prepared to combat snow-covered and icy roads whenever they occur.

Nearly 2,000 KYTC employees are standing by to treat and clear more than 60,000 lane miles of roads.

“The safety of Kentucky’s roadways is the focal point of our maintenance program this time of year,” Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Our snow and ice teams are on the job and ready to go even before winter weather hits. I’m proud of their professionalism and dedication to service.”

The Division of Maintenance of the Department of Highways outfits about 1,000 trucks with front-end blades and salt spreading equipment. In addition, 375 snow removal contractors are available to assist when needed.

When wintry weather is forecasted, KYTC crews begin applying brine or calcium chloride solutions to prevent ice buildup on the roads and facilitate plowing. Crews currently have on hand some 1 million gallons of brine and 900,000 gallons of calcium chloride solution.

Crews also have nearly 300,000 tons of salt on hand. Last winter they used 501,000 tons of salt – a record for the cabinet.

“We stockpile enough salt to get through what we anticipate to be a normal winter,” Division of Maintenance Director Nancy Albright said. “If we need additional salt, we’ll either purchase it from our contracted salt vendors or from other vendors when we can’t buy it from our current contract.”    

Albright added: “Our equipment and materials are prepared and our maintenance teams have completed their training – so we’re ready to go.”

Albright also said motorists who encounter snow removal crews at work need to be patient and give snow plows a wide berth. Roadways cannot be cleared instantly, she said. “It takes a little time,” she said, “and our trucks have to operate at safe speeds.”