I-71 in Gallatin County is closed due to weather-damaged roadways and long traffic
The Kentucky State Police have reported that bad weather and broken-down vehicles have once again closed Interstate 71 in the Gallatin County area. In any case, there were no reports of any crashes.
The routes going north are closed. The southbound lanes are available but moving slowly due to heavy congestion.
According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, southbound Interstate 71 has reopened after multiple accidents occurred early Friday morning in Gallatin County.
The sheriff’s office said that the event occurred near Interstate 71 mile marker 63.
Crash activity south of Boone County caused the closure of southbound Interstate 71 at the Interstate 75/Interstate 71 interchange at around noon.
As about 1:30 p.m., the highway has been cleared for traffic.
Earlier today, Governor Andy Beshear warned motorists to stay off Interstate 71 in Northern Kentucky due to poor road conditions.
Governor Beshear urged people to “Stay inside and stay off the roads to stay safe, “The best way to help is not to add another car to the backups. Stay away from I-71 entirely. It is unsafe due to backups and how long you could be stranded.”
Since Thursday night, when snow and temperatures began to plummet, semis have had a particularly difficult time navigating the steep roadways of Kentucky.
Accidents involving multiple semis on the Carroll Lee Cropper Bridge in Northern Kentucky have halted traffic on Interstate 275.
Boone County dispatchers said it occurred around 10:15 p.m., just as an arctic front was setting in.
Two semis and other cars were going to Kentucky when they skidded up a slope near the Carroll Cropper Bridge across the Ohio River.
On Friday morning, the eastbound lanes of Interstate 275 were closed intermittently in Boone County.
Nearly four hours were lost during the initial lockdown.
Around 2 o’clock in the morning, the motorway was opened again.