Though Trenton’s rail lines are back in service after Tuesday’s CSX derailment, U.S. 41 and Tress Shop Road will stay closed until cleanup is complete.
Todd County Emergency Management Director Ash Groves told WEKT News Edge that 31 of the train’s approximately 140 cars derailed.
On-site National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating the derailment’s cause, though a comprehensive report detailing their findings likely won’t be available for several months.
Groves confirmed that neither U.S. 41 nor KY 475/Tress Shop Road sustained structural damage during the incident. The roadways are slated to reopen following the successful removal of all debris.
Regarding environmental concerns, Groves stated that officials are closely monitoring the area; so far, most soil samples have yielded favorable results.
He added that once the debris is cleared, crews will excavate the soil contaminated by the molten sulfur spill and replace it with clean fill.
Todd County Judge-Executive Todd Mansfield expressed his gratitude to all the crews on-site, including the significant mutual aid provided by Christian County personnel since the derailment began.
If you are traveling from Todd County and looking for an alternate route while U.S. 41 is closed, you have a few primary options for going west:
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North via Elkton: Take KY 181 North to Elkton, then get on US 68/80 West.
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South toward I-24: Take KY 181 South to US 79, which will lead you to I-24 West.
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Alternative County Roads: Although there are numerous small county roads in the area, using a reliable GPS or mobile map app is recommended for navigating these local detours.
If you are traveling east from Christian County, you can use these same routes in the opposite direction.
Full update as aired on WEKT:
