Crews Pretreating Roads for Wednesday Night Snow

We're inching closer to the time when snow is forecast to fall, but forecasters aren't yet saying how much of the frozen precipitation they are expecting us to get.



Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1 crews in the state's 12 westernmost counties are gearing up for a developing winter weather event that includes a 60 percent chance of snow during the overnight hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and then a 30 to 40 percent chance after that through Friday.



To prepare, Kentucky highway crews in District 1 will be out pre-treating roadways during daylight hours today and Wednesday.



KYTC says motorists should be alert for slow moving trucks going about pre-treating activities, particularly along Interstates, parkways, and other major routes.



Pre-treating with brine leaves a fine coating of salt powder that will stick to road surfaces for several days. The salt is then available to be activated by falling precipitation during the early hours of a winter weather event.  The material gives highway crews a head-start on their snow and ice response by improving driving conditions in the early hours of an event.  It also keeps snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, making snow easier to plow off after it accumulates.



Additionally, KYTC says highway crews across western Kentucky will be loading salt onto their trucks, mounting snow plows, and preparing other necessary equipment before they leave work on Wednesday. This will allow crews to hit the road quickly during the overnight hours, if required.



The Transportation Cabinet says motorists are asked to do their part by assuring that they have good tread on their tires and carrying appropriate emergency supplies in their vehicle.  Wear warm clothing and use appropriate caution when precipitation and freezing temperatures have the potential to create hazardous driving conditions.