Director of Streets and Roads Rob Allen says this latest winter storm may not quite be on par with the 2009 or 2003 ice storms, but he calls it a "significant event" — compounded Monday by ice bringing down debris.
"So we have to shift out of snow removal into tree removal, get that cleared, and then go back to treating for snow," he says. "But we have multiple crews out doing that, and I see linemen everywhere, in parts of Lexington. So, hopefully, we'll get people up and running before this evening."
Heading in tonight, Allen cautions drivers sometimes the city's snow removal can be almost too efficient, leaving patches of black ice if drains clog and water pools. And that poses an even bigger risk as it gets dark.
As for Tuesday morning, depending on conditions overnight and how much progress workers make, there's a chance the picture could be much improved.
"Boy, we certainly hope so," Allen tells WUKY. "What hurts us this time is the extended cold temperatures. Luckily, it did not get as cold as as they had projected, which let us treat a little better, but, we're still looking at subfreezing temperatures at least through the weekend."
For now, the advice remains the same: Stay off the roads if you can.
