Emergency management and first responders in Trigg and Christian counties caught a little reprieve Wednesday afternoon, as a break in the clouds and temperatures in the mid-30s delivered a big assist in the melting process for local roads.
David Bryant, Trigg County emergency management director, said roads are already starting to improve in the area — but the concern for black ice and remaining accumulation will be in shadier, covered spots.
Bryant also noted that since at least 10 AM Wednesday, local radios have been quieter than Tuesday’s treacherous travel — which caused a number of accidents in Trigg, Christian and Todd counties, as well as Caldwell, Lyon, Marshall and I-24.
Randy Graham, Christian County emergency management director, said some welcome sunshine has helped Hopkinsville and its surroundings enjoy improving conditions.
However, Graham said several alternate routes and smaller roadways remain troublesome.
There’s a potential for light freezing rain Wednesday and Thursday evenings, which could bring some more complications, as could below-freezing temperatures — allowing for the refreeze of current slush.
Graham added this will be the focus of many in southwestern Kentucky over the next 2-to-3 days.
Monitoring the radio Wednesday morning, Graham said things have been “relatively quieter” as of 10 AM.
Around lunchtime Wednesday, Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1, stated that “icy conditions” remained all across the Purchase — particularly on rural secondary highways.
Sunshine, of course, is helping ice melt and clearing roads, but he noted that it’s also creating slick driving conditions “that may be as bad as they were at the height of freezing rain and sleet earlier in the week.”
With temperatures hovering around 34 degrees, there is still some slight re-freezing even during the day — and in the last few hours, KYTC could report a number of vehicles sliding off roadways, and even a few KYTC trucks that were spreading salt.
Road closures at this time include a section of KY 95 and a section of KY 1523/Oak Park Boulevard near Calvert City, KY 1055 and KY 1671 in Lyon County, KY 970/Highland Church Road and KY 1322/Lovelaceville Road in McCracken County, and KY 999/Krebs Station Road between Old Mayfield Road and Husbands Road.
