Speaking at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's equipment facility in Frankfort Tuesday morning, Beshear praised the overnight response that kept most major routes clear despite snowfall reaching three to four inches in some areas.
"That means Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employees, Kentucky State Police, county, and city crews worked through the night," said Beshear. "Most have not slept to have our roads in the very best shape that they can be in this morning."
From midnight onward, Kentucky State Police answered 516 calls and assisted 28 drivers in need. Several major routes experienced closures, including northbound I-69 in Hopkins County and sections of I-71 in Gallatin County due to multiple collisions. Crews cleared the Audubon Parkway in Henderson by 6 a.m. and reopened I-65 in Warren County by 5 a.m.
In central Kentucky, snow wrapped up by midmorning, with conditions improving throughout the day. However, Transportation Secretary Jim Gray warned that refreezing could occur after dark as temperatures drop.
Secretary Gray said 2,300 KYTC "snow fighters" and other crew members were on deck across all 120 counties, along with 1,500 plow trucks ready to cover 28,000 miles of state routes and more than 10,000 bridges.
"Our work comes thanks to months of preparation, which starts with our people: a strong and committed staff with well-maintained equipment and a fully stocked inventory of snow fighting supplies," said Gray.
The state stockpiled more than a million gallons of salt brine and nearly 260,000 tons of salt. The Cabinet also installed 43 of 50 new roadway weather cameras this year to provide crews with real-time road conditions and optimize response efforts. Crews pre-treated roads in many areas before the storm arrived, and warmer pavement temperatures helped make plowing easier.
Gray emphasized several key safety measures for drivers. Before traveling, check weather and road conditions. Slow down when snow, ice, or sleet is present, and give plow trucks plenty of space. Most importantly, consider whether travel is necessary during severe weather.
"Ice presents a very different and formidable challenge than snow," said Gray. "It cannot be plowed. It's invisible and hard to melt - at night, especially - and tends to stick around when temperatures are extremely low. Despite all the work we do to keep roads passable, sometimes the best and safest decision is choosing not to drive."
State Police Trooper Bryan Washer reminded drivers to turn on headlights during reduced visibility, clear all snow from windows and lights, and always wear seat belts. He also urged drivers to only call 911 for true emergencies.
"When you see law enforcement, EMS, fire personnel, or highway crews working on the roadside, please slow down and move over for them," said Washer. "It protects them, it protects you, and it gets everyone home safe to their families."
Beshear noted that road deaths in Kentucky fell to their lowest level in a decade in 2024, crediting drivers for working together to keep everyone safe.
"Let's all do our part to keep each other safe in this snow season," said Beshear.