Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 1 plan to ramp down ice-fighting efforts by about dark tonight, then return in force at 5 a.m., CST, on Friday.
The District 1 Snow & Ice Team will monitor things overnight and call in crews should trouble spots develop. Having crews report at 5 a.m., allows crews to salt bridges, overpasses, and other potential trouble spots in time for the morning commute.
Crews worked with a sense of urgency today as they spread salt and other ice-fighting chemicals to get area highways as clear as possible while temperatures were in the mid-20s. When overnight lows drop into the low to mid-teens, the ice-fighting chemicals are less effective.
KYTC engineers continue to remind everyone to limit travel due to the potential for hazardous driving conditions. Motorists are asked to reduce their driving speed to meet localized highway conditions.
The main concern during overnight hours is the potential re-freezing of any remaining moisture on driving surfaces, particularly on bridges and overpasses. Some freezing fog may also be possible around larger bodies of water.
Cold temperatures going into the weekend are expected to reduce the ability of highway crews to improve driving conditions through about Tuesday. Additional winter precipitation is in the forecast for the weekend.
Updated travel conditions are available at goky.ky.gov.
KYTC photo.