Roads still packed, more weather coming
With another round of winter weather due overnight, Jessamine County road crews were restocking salt and trying to maintain the roads.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through Friday morning calling for up to four inches of snow, sleet or freezing rain. After a week of frigid temperatures keeping snow and ice packed on many roads, it will likely be a couple more days before it warms enough for things to start thawing.
After multiple storms without a thaw in between, many roads throughout the county are still hard packed with everything.
“It’s compounded to a nice mess,” Jessamine County Emergency Management Director Johnny Adams said Tuesday.
Jessamine County road supervisor Coleman Tudor said the county’s salt stockpile has been replenished, but it’s been so cold the salt hasn’t been as effective.
“(The snow) have been pushed several times, but with the temperatures we’ve had … it takes the (ruts) out,” Tudor said. “When it gets packed down and people try to drive on it, it packs it down more.”
“Everything is packed so tight they’re not getting down to the surface,” Adams said.
The biggest thing to help the roads clear is sunshine and warmer temperatures.
“Any bit will help,” Tudor said. “This weekend it’s supposed to (warm up).”
Adams said there have been a few isolated power outages, but nearly everything was back on by Tuesday.
“It’s usually for a popping transformer,” he said.
The main roads through Jessamine County were pretty clear, Adams said, though side streets and residential areas were treacherous. That could all change again with more winter weather expected in the region.
“It’s subject to change,” Adams said.