Interstate 71 reopens in Gallatin County, Ky. after 2 days of icy roads and stranded motorists - WDRB

GALLATIN COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) – An icy agelong of Interstate 71 successful Gallatin County, Kentucky has reopened aft 2 days of icy conditions and stranded motorists.

State officials made the announcement conscionable earlier 5 p.m. connected Christmas Eve.

"At this clip owed to a corporate effort by the Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky National Guard, the authorities road department, and each 1 other progressive Interstate 71 is unfastened northbound and southbound successful Gallatin County."

KSP inactive urges caution portion traveling successful the existent upwind and roadworthy conditions.

Gov. Andy Beshear warned residents successful his Saturday quality league to debar a snowy agelong of I-71 aft a bid of accidents implicit 2 days caused important postulation backups.

“We got 1 cleared, past different happened. We got that cleared, and past different happened,” Beshear said during a quality briefing Saturday. “If you tin debar it, delight do. Don’t question if you don’t person to.”

Highways officials said connected societal media that postulation connected the interstate successful bluish Kentucky was backed up astatine 1 constituent for 14 miles.

There were reports of families stranded for hours earlier being rescued by Kentucky National Guard troops called successful to help.

Along Interstate 71 successful Kentucky, Terry Henderson and her husband, Rick, were stuck successful the monolithic postulation jam for 34 hours. The motortruck drivers weathered the hold successful a rig outfitted with a diesel heater, a toilet and a refrigerator but nevertheless regretted trying to thrust from Alabama to their location adjacent Akron, Ohio, for Christmas.

“I privation we should person stayed," said Terry Henderson, aft they got moving again Saturday. "We should person sat.”

The interstate was primitively closed owed to hazardous roadworthy conditions aboriginal on Friday. Emergency officials said the road was “impassable.”

Thursday night’s wintertime tempest dropped snow, brought freezing temperatures, and precocious winds. Road crews had been moving for hours to wide snowfall and crystal from roads.

Kentucky State Police person reported icy conditions connected respective roads. Moisture connected highways and roads from the daylight hours are apt re-freezing due to the fact that of the acold temperatures.