In response to slower thaw times, state transportation officials are assigning additional personnel to Christian and Muhlenberg counties to assist with road-clearing efforts.
Five additional crews will be sent to Muhlenberg County and four to Christian County as they continue removing significant ice accumulations from state highways.
District 2 spokesman Matt Hughes likens the weekend storm to the 2009 ice storm and says in some locations, crews are reporting up to three inches of ice on frozen road surfaces.
He says most of the precipitation that fell froze on the pavement, making it more difficult to treat roadways because traditional salt applications are less effective when applied directly to ice.
Hughes says areas north of Christian County received less ice and, as a result, have clearer roads.
He adds that crews are using non-traditional methods to try to break through the ice and clear it from the roads.
Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam says he has been in contact with the district highway engineer about the lack of cleared priority roads in the county.
Gilliam also pointed out that it seemed like more citizens and businesses have chipped in to help clear some of the routes.
Hughes says assistance from neighboring transportation districts has been requested, and contract graders have been deployed since the beginning of the weekend’s storms.
