LouisvilleKY’s Snow Team says ‘bring it’

740

Fleet updated with $1.8 million in new plowing vehicles

Follow @LouPubWorks on Twitter for snow removal progress

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 3, 2016) – Bring on winter. Joined by a 265-member Snow Team, Mayor Greg Fischer declared today that the Louisville Metro Snow Team is battle ready for winter 2016-17.

During the annual Snow Ready news conference outside Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, the Mayor noted that Public Works spent about $1.65 million dollars to update its plowing fleet for this year, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spent over $152,000 on new vehicles that Metro will use on state roads in the city. That will mean 17 new plowing vehicles among the 160 pieces of equipment the team will use to clear more than 2,700 two-lane miles of roads throughout the city’s 386 square miles.

Mayor Fischer said, “This investment in new equipment means that when the dedicated men and women of the Snow Team are away from their homes at all hours of the day or night to make the roads safe for the rest of us, they’ll have the right tools to get the job done.”

snow

The Mayor also introduced a new leader for the Snow Team. Brian Funk was appointed Public Works Assistant Director for Roads and Operations in September. In that capacity Funk leads the team that also includes the Public Works Solid Waste Management Division, Metro Parks, the Department of Codes & Regulations, and the Division of Fleet and Facilities.

This year Louisville will begin the snow season with 32,500 tons of salt on hand. A contract is in place to order more salt if needed. Most of the salt will be stored underground in Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Avenue, with about 13,500 tons distributed to four above ground locations, where it will be loaded onto salt spreading vehicles as needed.

The city will also continue to pretreat roads with brine ahead of snowfalls. Brine is a saltwater solution that reduces the adherence of snow and ice to pavement and reduces slick spots.

Snow removal progress can be followed via an interactive online map. During snow events we will post a link to the snow map on the city website www.Louisvilleky.gov and the Department of Public Works site at www.louisvilleky.gov/publicworks. The latest updates will also be posted on Twitter. Just follow the @LouPubWorks profile.

snow

City snow routes include arterial and collector roads, bus routes and roads to major employers and emergency facilities. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and private contractors clear about 600 miles in the city. About 1,000 miles of neighborhood streets are only cleared when a snow emergency has been officially declared.