It looks like Northern Kentucky is going to get its first snowfall of the year this weekend, and we wondered: how does snow removal work?
Early Saturday morning, around 4 a.m., snow is expected to move its way into the region. It should continue throughout the morning and is predicted to slow down around noon, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast.
Snow accumulation is predicted to be between 0.5 and 1 inch, and temperatures are expected to reach nearly 40 degrees later in the afternoon, so we probably won’t be snowed in (no need to panic run to the grocery store).
However, the unpredictability of snow is what can make preparing for storms difficult. “We understand winter weather can change on a moment’s notice,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Public Information Officer Jake Ryle.
The ability to pivot quickly and strong communication are the two biggest factors in dealing with winter weather, Ryle said.
In KYTC District 6 (which encompasses Northern Kentucky), the crews are stocked with “26,128 tons of salt, 97,200 gallons of brine, and 78,272 gallons of calcium chloride,” said Ryle. There are also 113 District 6 crew members ready to go during a storm.
Working with the National Weather Service, Ryle said the KYTC crews start prepping for winter weather “several days out,” and when the storm gets closer and the forecast is more set in stone, officials will begin to decide when and where crews are needed.
In Boone County, Public Works Director Thomas Logan said their teams meet in October and early November to “review safety, equipment, snow routes, and communication procedures.”
Logan said weather forecasts are also important to their plan of action for treating and clearing roads. Friday, ahead of the expected storm, crews have been sent to pre-treat certain areas of Boone County, including “known trouble areas and steep hills.”
The forecast is also used to plan for the specific pre-treatment mixture “based on the forecasted temperatures, precipitation levels and timing of snow or (in this case) sleet or rain.”
Who is responsible for what roads?
While there are always exceptions to some rules, KYTC is responsible for state-owned roads, counties are responsible for county-owned roads, and local municipalities are responsible for clearing the roads within their jurisdiction.
However, all three have the same goal: make sure the roads are safe during a storm, “working together with local municipalities during a winter weather event is key to ensuring safer roads for motorists,” said Ryle.
How are roads prioritized?
During snowfall, everyone is anxious to know when the roads around them are going to be cleared. Roads are prioritized through multiple factors, which differ per organization.
KYTC uses a four-tier system to prioritize treating and clearing roads, determining factors including “traffic volume and connectivity to critical services like hospitals.” said Ryle.
NKY offers its own set of challenges due to its multitude of bridges and plenty of hills; Ryle said District 6 “assigns three crews to treat the Cut in the Hill on I-71/75.”
Boone County has its own difficulties, as much of the county roads are in rural areas, Logan said there are certain safety concerns on rural roads.
“Many rural roads are narrow and often have limited shoulder space to safety allow opposing traffic to pass (particularly with dump trucks equipped with snow plows and salt application equipment),” said Logan.
Rural roads also often have steep grades that “present traction challenges and require additional time to safety treat and plow to assure the safety of equipment operators and the traveling public is never compromised,” said Logan.
In Boone County, plowing begins when “snow accumulation exceeds one inch,” per the Boone County Public Works Department. “Typically, it takes anywhere from six to eight hours per inch of snow to treat 1,000 miles of roadway,” said the department.
Boone County is responsible for 448 centerline miles – or 1,000 total miles – of county roads, and the Public Works Department said it takes roughly 12 to 16 hours to plow those 1,000 miles.
During winter weather events, the county said plows are initially deployed to primary routes; once those are deemed passable, “secondary and tertiary routes will be addressed.”
As residents, the best way to help crews, Boone County said, is to just stay off the roads as much as possible. The county also offered a few other tips to help crews complete their job:
- Park cars in driveways.
- Give plows plenty of room to work – at least 200 feet.
- Reduce driving speeds.
- Increase space between cars to allow safe stopping on wet, frozen or snow-covered roads.
- Avoid passing snowplows.
- Do not shovel, plow, or blow snow onto public roads.
How do you stay safe on the roads?
While the recommendation is to stay off the roads, that’s not always possible. So, if you do have to drive, KYTC is offering some tips on how to stay the safest you can:
- Travel only when necessary during major snow events.
- Stock vehicles with ice scrapers, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, a cell phone charger, non-perishable snacks and a first aid kit in case you get stranded on the road.
- Winterize your vehicle. Check your car battery, tire pressure and brakes. Ensure your heater, defroster, headlights and windshield wipers are working properly.
- When snow and/or ice are on roadways, drive slowly no matter what type of vehicle you drive. It takes more time and distance to stop your vehicle in poor weather, so brake early and slowly.
- Pay attention to weather advisories and allow more time to travel for routine commutes.
- Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shaded areas. These are all candidates for developing black ice – a thin coating of hard-to-see clear ice that can form on the pavement surface.
- Maintain a safe distance from snowplows and other heavy highway equipment, and do not pass snowplows on the shoulder.
- Know before you go. Download the free WAZE app or visit ky.gov to check traffic conditions before you travel. The map also offers access to select traffic cameras on interstates and parkways.
- Buckle up! Phone down! Eliminate distractions while driving.