LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Are you dreaming of a white Christmas but don't enjoy the headache caused by messy, snowy roadways? Louisville Metro's Snow Team has you covered this snow season.
What You Need To Know
- Louisville begins the season with 49,000 tons of salt, a record amount for the city
- Most salt will be stored underground in the Louisville Mega Cavern
- Roads will be pretreated with brine ahead of snowfalls
- Snow removal progress can be followed via an interactive online map
Mayor Greg Fischer (D) joined members of the Metro Snow Team and partners from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today to outline the city's preparations for the upcoming snow season.
The Snow Team worked through a mock snow event — driving through all road treatment routes — and Fischer thanked them for their hard work.
“It takes a special kind of team to go out and handle significant winter weather, and I along with everyone in our city are truly thankful for their tireless commitment and service,” Fischer said. “This team will jump into action any hour, any day, to make it safe for the rest of us to get where we need to go when the weather gets bad.”
Louisville will enter the snow season with over 49,000 tons of salt at its disposal, a record-breaking cache that is larger than Louisville Metro has ever had for any snow season. Most salt will be stored at the Louisville Mega Cavern, with about 17,500 tons being stored above ground.
Roads will continue to be pretreated with brine — a saltwater solution that stops snow and ice from sticking to pavement — ahead of any major snowfalls.
Interested in keeping up with the Snow Team's progress? The snow removal process can be tracked in real time through a few ways:
- An interactive map on the Department of Public Works website
- @LouPubWorks on Twitter during major snow events
The city's snow routes total to about 2,700 two-lane miles. The KYTC and private contractors also help clear some routes.
“During a snow event, our crews cover nearly 600 lane miles of roadway in Jefferson County and work to ensure interstates are clear and safe for travel,” said KYTC District 5 Chief District Engineer Matt Bullock. “Our snow fighters are prepared and ready to respond anytime winter weather impacts our area.”
The Louisville Fire Department often assists the Snow Team, and Major Bobby Cooper knows the importance of their work.
“Early response is critical when responding to any emergency incident. The work of the Snow Team allows us to arrive on scene safely and quickly to preserve property and save lives during snow events. We couldn’t do it without their support," Cooper said.