After the weekend’s winter storm, road crews are still working to clear snow as the extremely cold weather continues throughout the week.
Caldwell County Emergency Management Director Joey McCaslin says road crews have been working all weekend to clear snow, but extremely cold weather is making their job more difficult. He urges residents to continue to stay home and avoid travel while crews continue their work on Monday.
click to download audioMcCaslin says some residents get frustrated when plowed snow from the road blocks their driveways, but he explains that road crews are unable to clear these piles.
click to download audioAs previously reported by WPKY’s News Edge, McCaslin reported this weekend that there was a minor accident with no injuries overnight Friday and two vehicles that slid off Interstate 24 overnight Saturday, also with no injuries.
click to download audioMcCaslin also reported this weekend that there were no power outages during the winter storm.
Meanwhile, officials from the Princeton Electric Plant Board reported Sunday afternoon that three of their linemen will head to Lexington, Tennessee, early Monday morning to assist with power restoration efforts. Officials said other linemen from Kentucky municipal utilities will join them.
As of Monday morning, Caldwell County Road Department Supervisor David Waldrum reported that crews made one pass on all county roads Sunday and are out again today, Monday, working to clear both lanes on every route.
Princeton Public Works Director Chris Pool says city streets are mostly passable but may be slick in places, and drivers should watch out for plowed mounds of snow.
Lyon County Sheriff Brent White reports that as of Monday morning, US 62 and US 641 have improved, while Interstates 24 and Interstate 69 have at least one lane cleared, with two lanes open in some areas. He says that secondary roads may have received only a single plow pass, or none at all, on Sunday as crews concentrated on keeping the interstates clear during continued snowfall.
Sheriff White also reports there have been no serious accidents, but people are still getting stuck in the snow when trying to leave their driveways or turning onto plowed main roads from secondary streets and roads.
With an Extreme Cold Warning in effect through Tuesday, McCaslin urges everyone to stay home Monday, but if you must go outside, make sure to dress warmly.
click to download audioThe National Weather Service in Paducah has issued an Extreme Cold Warning with dangerously cold temperatures of -10 to -20 wind chill values forecasted through Tuesday morning, which can cause frostbite and hypothermia if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
As a reminder, the Caldwell County Courthouse is open as a warming shelter 24/7 through the end of this week.
