KYTC District Two Engineer shares road clearing updates

Many Christian County roads are still impacted by ice from Winter Storm Fern, and at Thursday’s Fiscal Court meeting, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Two Chief Engineer Deneatra Henderson presented magistrates with a road-clearing update.

Following the winter storm, temperatures have remained well below freezing, resulting in a layer of ice adhering to many roads. Henderson says ice removal has been especially difficult in Christian County because the region received higher rates of ice.

Henderson says Christian, Muhlenberg, Ohio and Grayson Counties all received severe ice accumulations that have been difficult to remove.

Last week, Henderson says all state routes were pretreated with a salt brine ahead of the winter storm, and there was no lack in preparations. She says Christian County has one of their largest salt sheds that can hold around 2,000 tons of salt, and all of it was used to prepare local roads. Currently, trucks have been called in from neighboring counties to help salt the roads and clear the ice.

Four road crews from neighboring counties are now in Christian County assisting with road clearance. The snow could possibly return next week, and Henderson says she requested more salt and other ice-melting mixes just in case those forecasts ring true.

Christian County Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam says all roads have been plowed at least once so far, and many are undergoing a second round. Local road crews are also set to get an additional 500 tons of salt brine.

Henderson also dispelled a rumor that road crews were incentivized to use less salt, and told magistrates that there was no such instruction given.