Lexington prepares for winter weather with expanded snow fleet and added staffing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – With winter weather expected to move in Monday night, Lexington officials say the city is more prepared than ever to respond — but they’re urging drivers to be ready, too.

In a statement from the City of Lexington, Mayor Linda Gorton said the government has invested heavily this year to strengthen its winter response.

“We’re ready, and we hope drivers are ready to be cautious,” Gorton said. “We’ve invested an additional $2.2 million in snow equipment and personnel this year… what’s most important is that our community’s drivers be prepared to use extra caution.”

Rob Allen, Director of Streets and Roads, said more than 100 employees and 45 pieces of equipment will be part of the city’s response, with contractor crews adding up to 11 additional trucks if needed.

Pre-treatment already underway

Officials say crews began pre-treating roads early Monday afternoon, focusing on Man O War, bridges, overpasses and hills. On-call crews will report at 8 p.m. and work overnight until the day shift arrives Tuesday morning.

Contractor partners will be brought in as needed to help with treatment.

The city says preparation has been underway for months. Since September, Lexington has been working with Fayette County Public Schools, UK, Lextran, and LexPark to coordinate winter plans. Snow removal crews also completed hands-on plow training and route rehearsals in October.

More resources after last winter’s storm

After a major winter storm last January, city leaders approved several upgrades to improve response, including:

• Five new snowplows and salt spreaders

• Expanded use of Parks & Recreation trucks equipped for snow removal

• Emergency contracts with private contractors to help clear neighborhood streets

• Three new tanker trucks for brine and beet-heat application

How Lexington prioritizes snow removal

According to the city, Lexington is responsible for about 1,428 lane miles of city and county roads and 84 miles of sidewalk, while the state maintains 878 lane miles of state routes.

Roads are cleared based on a ranking system, with priority given to major corridors, emergency routes, school routes, and high-traffic roads.

What residents should know

The city also shared answers to common snow-removal questions:

• Ranked roads are plowed first; many neighborhood streets are not plowed in typical snow events.

• Crews will return to re-plow ranked routes if snow continues.

• Roads may still be slick due to refreezing or extremely cold pavement.

• Brine, salt, and plowing decisions depend on the weather and road conditions.

• Snow at the end of driveways will not be removed by city crews.

• Snowplow trucks may be applying brine, assessing roads, or restocking even when not actively plowing.

• Keeping roads clear of parked cars helps crews work faster and more safely.

Shelter options available

Street outreach teams will notify unsheltered residents about available shelters, including the expanded LFUCG winter shelter on Versailles Road, which now offers 216 beds. Free transportation is available.

Where to get updates

The latest snow removal updates, closures, and service changes will be posted at:
lexingtonky.gov/snowupdates
More winter weather information is available at lexingtonky.gov/snow.