The widespread rain sweeping across many parts of Kentucky could create an additional challenge for state road crews during this week’s winter storm. Natasha Lacy is the District Seven Highway Spokeswoman. She said brine can’t be applied to pavement prior to this wintry mix because it will get washed off. In addition to road scraping, Lacy said crews can help with non-tangled tree issues.
“Because if there is a downed tree or limbs that have carried power lines with them, then we wait until the utility crew can come to identify what lines need repair, and then we can, of course, help to trim away the brush and the limbs and the debris, so they can get to the lines,” said Lacy.
The central Kentucky area could see some ice accumulation once the rain changes over to freezing rain on Thursday.
This fourth winter event of 2022 could bring with it flooding concerns in southeast Kentucky. Officials say a predicted three inches of rain could prompt waters to come out of the Kentucky and Red River banks. H.B. Elkins is the spokesman for Highway District Ten. He noted the big drop in temperatures could mean a shifting of responsibilities for road crews. “We’re in a situation. We had this happen a few years ago where we’ve got crews out one day putting up high water signs and then the next day they’re running salt trucks to try to treat the roads,” said Elkins
Eastern Kentucky residents are readying themselves for another dose of winter weather. The biggest threat in the east appears to be flooding. Mary Westsall-Holbrook is chief district engineer for the state transportation office in Pikeville. She said bare, saturated ground can set the stage for flooding. “And they’re expecting anyway from one to three inches of rain. And, in the mountains with the streams, they way they are and they’re still full from the last a couple of weeks ago, we could get a lot of flooding.”
Portions of west and central Kentucky are expecting to see rain changing to freezing rain where ice accumulation could be the biggest problem. Governor Beshear has declared a state of emergency due to the coming storm.
