Motorists on Saturday created a potentially life-threatening situation by ignoring “Road Closed” signage and traffic barrels at a closed ramp in the I-24 Exit 25 Work Zone at Calvert City, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The US 62 Exit 27 westbound entry ramp to I-24 has been closed for several months to facilitate upgrades to allow I-69 to eventually be extended southward along the Purchase Parkway. With ice and snow covering a decorative curb and island, motorists had been attempting to use the closed ramp instead of following a marked detour.
Several semi trucks became stuck in ice and snow going up the unplowed ramp. A tow truck helped to free one of the trucks while personnel from Jim Smith Construction Company collected necessary traffic control equipment to securely close the ramp.
Vehicles that successfully made it up the closed ramp had to thread through the construction zone for about a mile to get around a safety barrier and access I-24 westbound.