Winds in excess of 50 MPH have been causing headaches for city officials, drivers, and home and business owners Monday.
News release from Lexington Emergency Management:
High winds in advance of a cold front swept through Fayette County Monday, causing the complete shutdown of Versailles Road between New Circle Road and Man O’ War Boulevard. It's expected to be shut down until late evening.
Only local access was being permitted on Versailles Road and police encouraged drivers who live it the Versailles Road area to stay home if possible.
About 14,000 Kentucky Utilities customers were without power at 11:45 a.m. The worst hit areas were parts of the downtown core, the Versailles Road corridor past New Circle Road and the Fayette Mall area.
Here is a rundown of how the winds were affecting city government:
Streets and Road
Phone lines and power were off at the Division of Streets and Roads main administrative offices on Old Frankfort Pike. Crews were out responding to reports of downed trees and limbs but none of the reports were major.
Waste Management
The high winds blew the cover off a tent-like structure at the city’s recycling facility, located at 360 Thompson Road. No material blew out of the facility. Crews were waiting for the winds to calm before removing the cover.
Police, Traffic Engineering
Several traffic lights in the Versailles Road area were not functioning and there was no estimate of when the power might be restored. Police remind motorists to approach out-of-service signalized intersections as if they were four-way stops.
