News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The majority of Upper Cumberland Highway Departments are reporting that roadways are becoming more and more passable.
Putnam County Road Supervisor Randy Jones said a slight temperature increase Thursday has improved conditions. Jones said the two to four inches of snow the county saw was wet and easily melted off main roadways without refreezing.
Early Thursday morning, Jones said lots of fallen trees were reported on Woodcliff Road. Crews have been working through out the day to clear this area. Jones said the area of Buck and Brotherton Mountain towards Monterey also saw road improvements, but fallen trees remain a challenge. Most secondary roads still remain slick with all other roads clear.
White County received lots of rain early Thursday morning. That significantly helped road conditions. Highway Superintendent Clay Parker said a slight temperature increase with the rainfall has made all roads passable.
Parker said even untouched areas near the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport have melted on their own Thursday. Parker said the department has stopped using salt, but crews will make a final lap to push roads.
Jackson County crews are still scraping roads, but conditions are not as fair compared to other counties. Highway Superintendent Preacher Anderson said roadways are improving slowly, but most secondary roads are still covered in a mixture of snow and ice. Anderson said main roads are passable.
Clay County crews are making decent progress on secondary roads Thursday, according to Highway Superintendent Jason Browning. Browning said Clay County received up to six inches of snow in some areas, but a combination of salt and increasing temperatures have helped clear primary roads.
The heavy snow fall resulted in more fallen trees in the Turkeytown and Dry Mill Creek areas. Browning said he ask drivers to remain cautious while driving near there. Secondary roads are still slick at this time.
About 70 percent of roads in Overton County are passable, according to the county’s highway department. While roads conditions are improving, trees continue to fall near Columbia Hill, Allons and Airport Road. Crews are still pushing snow and salting throughout the county Thursday.
Fentress County Dispatch is reporting that main roads in the county are clear. However, county roads are still in bad condition with snow. The county is also experiencing fog Thursday afternoon which drivers should be cautious of.
Van Buren County EMS Director Tiwanna Bricker said Van Buren is getting foggy as well, and drivers should travel cautiously. Bricker said the main roads like Highway 111 and 30 are clear. However, Bricker said side roads still have snow, but crews are working to clear those.
All highway officials are asking residents to keep travels to a minimum if possible.
