HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Since the end of October, crews with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have been going through snow and ice safety training to ensure teams are prepared for possible winter weather conditions. As the temperatures are already beginning to drop, the lingering possibility of icy weather is on the tip of everyone’s mind.

“When we get into this time of year, snow and ice are always possibilities,” Matt Hughes, PIO for KYTC District 2 told Christian County Now. “With that in mind, once we start to wrap up the summer construction and mowing season, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet begins preparing for what the winter months may or may not throw at us.”

When winter weather strikes, KYTC oversees 840 miles of roads in Christian County, including several within Hopkinsville city limits such as the Pennyrile Parkway and interstate. According to Hughes, if the road has a U.S. or Kentucky route number their crews are responsible for clearing it. Separately, the Street Division of Public Works in Hopkinsville will plow and salt nearly 200 miles of road, operating with their own crew and fleet of trucks.

For Christian County, KYTC has designated 2,500 tons of salt, 16,000 gallons of magnesium, and 35,000 gallons of salt brine, all to help prevent the dangerous freezing of roads. The county also has 16 dump truck-mounted plows, and a trailer mounted rear tow plow that Hughes said swings out like a jackknife to clear two driving lanes in one pass. This unique truck is housed in Hopkinsville and is one of only 12 in the entire state.

Training and safety

During training, snow fighting crews discuss how to properly wear personal protective equipment and learn how to safely operate plows and salt spreaders. Hughes further explained that snowplows are not invincible to the dangers that snow and ice pose.

“Keeping our snow crews safe and snowplows out of ditches means we must have our people trained and the equipment operational before it snows,” he added. “That’s why we start preparing early, just so we don’t get caught having to prepare at the last minute, a day or two ahead of a surprise winter weather outbreak rolls into the region.”

Half of the battle is acting fast enough to make roads safe, and the other half is educating motorists on the best ways to drive during inclement winter weather. Hughes shared that their number one recommendation is staying home, but if that is not possible, he recommends giving snowplows plenty of room on the roadways, giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, slowing down near intersections, ramps, and bridges, and maintaining space between other vehicles during icy conditions.

He also said it is a good idea to keep an emergency kit inside vehicles that include blankets, water, flashlights, and essential items. Drivers can visit snowky.ky.gov for winter weather travel information during inclement weather to better gauge how safe the roads are.

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