Clearing the Roads

[tkcomer]

Does anyone else here seem to notice our road department has a harder time clearing the roads in Mason County than the departments in other counties? I’m talking about the state, not the county itself. They do an excellent job. This morning when I got up at 9AM, #11 was still an ice coated mess. Now I can’t say they didn’t salt it, but if they did, they used a very small amount. The left hand lane in front of the farm is still iced covered and when I looked out the window at 1:45PM, I saw where a vehicle had slid off the road and down over the bank and back up. This has been going on for decades. When I lived at Highland Heights, a lot of times the County would have the SUBDIVISION cleared before the state had even begun on the AA. And it seems almost magical that the AA will clear completely up at the Bracken and Lewis county lines. I remember back in the bad snow of ’94, the county commissioners wanted an investigation into why the state had failed so miserably in Mason County. I can remember dad and I going to Flemingsburg back in the cold of ’77 to pick something up. You couldn’t even see #11, but at the Fleming County line, you could run 70 MPH, it was that clean. I’m back on #11 now. I see the trucks. I hear them go by. I feel sorry they have to get out in such miserable weather. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out why they can’t keep the 3 main roads cleared off like the other counties.

[mark]

...........I've noticed that also. It probably comes down to the money factor somehow. Fayette & other "richer" counties probably has the equipment running around the clock while we are as you described.


Merry Christmas. ( I AM allowed to say that, right? ) .............see ya Mark

[tkcomer]

Merry Christmas to you too. That’s just it. We are the rich county in this area. Has Maysville taken over the downtown area of 2nd street yet? I know the city did not hesitate to put in the paper that the “through” streets in Maysville belonged to the state when people complained about how bad they were.

[navywife]

Just letting you know I drove north to fairfield OH this weekend and the roads were not clear on the AA--bracken was ok but cambell and pendleton counties were worst they barely had one lane somewhat clear.......IT WAS AWFUL!!!!

[kcredden]

Just letting you know I drove north to fairfield OH this weekend and the roads were not clear on the AA--bracken was ok but cambell and pendleton counties were worst they barely had one lane somewhat clear.......IT WAS AWFUL!!!!

Lisa:

This is the beauty of the BBS. People like us, can alert people ahead of time to problems, gas prices :), and other things. Thanks for the post!

[kybikertrash]

I went to Louisville yesterday, and if I lived in Campbell county, I would be one hot taxpayer.. The roads were awful.

The AA was one lane in places. They had a lot of snow (maybe 8 to 10") but five days later you would expect better.

Mason County has had that much snow before and I don't remeber the roads being that bad days later.

I had to make a stop in Campbell County that required me to take a couple of side roads and they were horrible.

[tkcomer]

That’s weird. I had to go to Northern Kentucky right after the big snow in ’94. Mason County was a white knuckle drive, Bracken County, the road was clear, Pendleton had the road cleared to the guardrails, Campbell had the entire 4 lanes clear and was cleared to the guardrail. I guess since I get out at 4:30 to 5 AM in the morning, I see things before the state has begun. I’m also back on the farm so I see where people have slid off a relatively straight section of highway. But a little short section of side road, Cahill Road, a county road, is clear. And I can’t count the times I’ve fought my way through Mason County, cross the bridge and US 52 is so cleared off, you can run 55 no problem. With the guys coming in from Bracken, Fleming and Lewis counties cursing Mason County. That and the delivery truck drivers that complain very loudly that Mason County needs to get it’s act together everytime it snows.

[mark]

...........I couldn't agree more! I've heard that very same complaint from others traveling across county lines in previous years. I would think the AA would be one of the 1st & easiest highways to scrape..............see ya Mark

[navywife]

What kills me is that everyone complains about how dangerous AA is --but yet you can't take the time to clean the snow off it and make sure that it is clear so there is a less likely-hood of an accident!!!

[tkcomer]

Here’s the thing about it. I have a 4WD. I could care less if they cleaned the roads. But, when I drive to work and see where other people have slid off the road, it makes me wonder. What if I had been there when they did that? THAT’S what worries me. And I drive a Jeep Wrangler or CJ. You can’t go over 35 MPH in those things. Safely. They will go most places, just not fast. I’ve pulled over to let people by. I hate to be in a pack under those conditions. I’ve seen too many times where someone will lose control and the person behind them wrecks. But like I’ve said before, I see the trucks. I just don’t know what they are doing that is so much different than the other counties.

[Eddie]

Living here all my life, I agree the roads are not near as maintained as in the past. the biggest problem I see is that the road department doesn't get out there until the roads have gotten too bad. In years past, as soon as it started to snow, they were out salting, or even pre-salting prior to the snow falling. Now if it snows durring the night, they wait until 8 or 9:00 AM to get started. By then all the motorist are on the roads trying to get to work.
EJ