How are the streets and roads today?

[Robin Garr]

I've got to get out and among 'em shortly ... first time I've had the car out of the garage since before it started. I'll just be around Crescent Hill and St. Matthews, mostly on main streets. Hoping I'll find things passable if not really "normal". Any tips?

I love this stuff, so I might not be the best person to ask. BUT once you get off of your street, you should be fine. Frankfort is fine, Grinstead is fine - other than the tree hanging in the road near the car wash, Payne street is fine, Shelbyville Rd is fine.

I think our biggest problem driving yesterday was trying to keep eyes on the road, rather than exclaiming "Oh look at that!" and just gawking out the windows.

A lot of parking lots still are pretty rough, I've seen several cars almost become stuck and sliding is something to watch for. Other than that most of the streets I've seen look fine in regards to ice and snow. One thing to watch for of course is still falling branches. I had to dodge several when I was out driving just a few minutes ago.

Robin, the main streets are fine. The side streets are pretty f'ed, but what you really have to watch out for are all the other drivers. They are all idiotically impatient and none of them know how to drive in the snow.

Roads are fine. I was out yesterday morning and, judging from the condition of the roads, was surprised that UofL was off.The roads are also fine today. The main problem I have had is figuring out the "corn maze" that is the east side of Old Louisville. Parked cars that are blocking lanes have also been a problem - but all roads have at least one driving lane open in each direction.

I'm always astounded at the inability of many drivers (not all) to comprehend the idea that changing conditions call for different driving habits. I've seen it all this week - speeding, following too closely, taking turns too quickly, etc. Seems some people would rather complain about the condition of the roads instead of asking themselves what they need to do to drive safely.

I was glad to see the number of intersections that had portable stop signs in place of out stoplights. The Ike aftermath proved that too many people don't know how to proceed through an intersection when the stoplights are out.

As I said, watch out for the parking lots in particular...several days without incident and I finally slide across the gravel parking lot at work a short time ago. Luckily I was able to stop before hitting anything besides a snow drift. Now that would have been embarassing, taking out another car AT an ambulance service!

Well, KY made the front page of http://www.cnn.com, and not in a good way. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/01/3 ... index.html There is a video link on the front page showing Grayson county entirely without power.

I'm always astounded at the inability of many drivers (not all) to comprehend the idea that changing conditions call for different driving habits. I've seen it all this week - speeding, following too closely, taking turns too quickly, etc. Seems some people would rather complain about the condition of the roads instead of asking themselves what they need to do to drive safely.

Yesterday while delivering orders in the East End, I saw a lady in a black SUV plow at full speed right through the intersection at US 42 and the Gene Snyder, without stopping, despite a long line of drivers patiently waiting their turn to left onto the Snyde-way. I generally don't wish harm on anyone, but seeing behavior like that makes me sometimes wish that the louts who exercise it somehow pay for their actions (with no one who is actually innocent of being a jackass being harmed, of course).

The roads aren't bad at all, neither yesterday nor with the snow early this morning, it's really just a matter of people driving like selfish jerks.

I was glad to see the number of intersections that had portable stop signs in place of out stoplights. The Ike aftermath proved that too many people don't know how to proceed through an intersection when the stoplights are out.

I know they've got a lot of problems to deal with, and it's really cold, but I am amazed at the absence of police and National Guard units on the streets. There's some intersections where a traffic guard would really help, especially if visibility is blocked (Eastern Parkway and Newburg Road comes to mind), but I haven't hardly seen any law enforcement on the streets since our Winter Catastrophe '09(tm) started.

I've been driving into west Louisville from west Oldham Co since the storm hit. I stay on 4 lane roads whether they are xways or surface streets. Less chance to run into a tree or limbs blocking the wider roads. The challenge is getting out of our driveways and out of our 'subdivisions'. Trees down everywhere. Cars parking in the streets. A normal 25 minute trip is taking me more than an hour each day each way.
It's a pretty snow, but I can say that since I have power. We didn't have power for a week after 'Ike' but that was an inconvenience compared to this.
We made it to the UL game Wed. night. Nice diversion. (Lost our very tattered UofL flag around Poplar Level/xway. It was hard as rock and should have removed it but didn't. Thank goodness it didn't hit anyone. Hadn't thought about that. Would have take it down. Just weren't thinking. (Stopped at the BBC before we went to the game. Good crowd. Thinking about trying the Trolley Hop tonight. I like to use it as an 'excuse' to stop in somewhere we haven't been before.)
As far as the way some people drive, I always wish I had a 'James Bond' car that could spray water at the offending vehicle. Or maybe a Mr. Microphone that I could yell the occassional displeasure at a particular vehicle (I try not to generalize but do most of the worst/thoughtless drivers in Louisville seem to be in SUVs? At the Snyder/71 South ramp, each morning, we all wait patiently in line to get on 71 south but who pulls up to cut in front of the line but a SUV. Certainly not a scientific poll. I've been driving compacts since 1978 so I have a slight chip on my shoulder )

Bardstown Road is fine, but it was packed with cars yesterday. I do recommend staying on Bardstown itself though, as I almost got stuck on Bonnycastle.

Also, Old Louisville is looking a little better, but 2nd street is still blocked by a huge tree between Mag and Ormsby.

Personally, I kind of enjoyed the experience of driving on 4th near and south of Central Park. The low-hanging trees created a sort of icy tunnel, and the lack of streetlights added a lot to the ambiance. On that note though, I do hope all of those people (including a few of my friends) get power back very soon.

The roads are doing very well but the driver's as mentioned by others are the bigger problem. I wish those of you born and brought up in the south who don't have any idea how to drive in snow would stay home so that those of us who grew up in snow banks up north wouldn't have to worry about you. I grew up in upstate New York and a storm like this wouldn't have even caused school to be canceled. Of course the snowplow operators there knew what they were doing opposed those here who have no idea how to plow!

The roads are doing very well but the driver's as mentioned by others are the bigger problem. I wish those of you born and brought up in the south who don't have any idea how to drive in snow would stay home so that those of us who grew up in snow banks up north wouldn't have to worry about you. I grew up in upstate New York and a storm like this wouldn't have even caused school to be canceled. Of course the snowplow operators there knew what they were doing opposed those here who have no idea how to plow!

After growing up here, then living in upstate NY, Chicago, and NYC, I've never quite understood why Louisville does such a half-assed job of plowing its streets. In Chicago and NYC after a snowstorm, just about EVERY street gets plowed, not just "major" roads. Plow 'em all, pay the workers a decent wage (and overtime), and voila! We'll have less craptastic driving from snow-averse Louisvillians as a result.

today is my first day wtih power since tuesday, and i just got the juice back on about 2 hours ago.
from where im at, i can see the nearest intersecting 'main' road to me (slate run rd. in n'albany), but between that road and myself, it looks like an ice hurricane came through.
i have NEVER seen so many trees down. and the electric company has been working on getting all the downed power lines/utility poles back together for several hours now.
itll be nice when the city gets out to harvest all the trees and limbs.
i dont know whats more frustrating... that im still stuck inside, or that im stuck inside but can see my freedom a few blocks away and cant get to it yet.
im REALLY missing being out and about.
my phone is hit and miss too right now, so if anyone stops by Mojito... please ask Fernando/Christina to check PM's here.

thanks and godspeed.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks, all ... just as most of you said, Frankfort Avenue and Lexington Road, Hillcrest and Grinstead and Chenoweth and all other major streets between Crescent Hill and St. Matthews are clear and dry, and honestly, I didn't see much bad driving, only one person getting honked at for ignoring four-way stop discipline where the traffic light is out at Lexington and Bauer.

The side streets in Crescent Hill look scary, and our street - which was clear to Frankfort Avenue when I left home - had a big tree fall across it this morning. This seemed odd, since it wasn't particularly windy, but it underscores concerns about walking and playing under ice-covered trees. If one decides to come down, it comes down fast, and I wouldn't want a loved one or me standing there when it happened.

The tree guys just came through and looked at our mangled magnolia, said it looks stable, and they'll get back to us pretty soon to trim out the broken bits. He said we're lucky it landed on the roof ... that way, homeowners' insurance covers it (subject to deductible). If it just fell i the yard, no insurance. Works for me!