PennDOT Imposes Restrictions as Winter Weather Spreads Across the State

PennDOT Imposes Restrictions as Winter Weather Spreads Across the State

3/20/2018-HARRISBURG

With snow falling across a wide area of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation (PennDOT) imposed a series of restrictions on
most
interstates as of 8 PM tonight.

PennDOT imposed a ban on empty straight CDL-weighted trucks, tractors
hauling
double trailers, tractors hauling empty trailers, trailers pulled by
passenger
vehicles or pick-up trucks, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, or RVs,
on:

• Interstate 76 across the state, which includes the Schuylkill Expressway
and
the East-West Pennsylvania Turnpike;
• Interstate 95 (entire length);
• Interstates 276 and 476, a portion of the mainline Turnpike in
southeastern
Pennsylvania and the entire Northeastern Extension;
• Interstate 476 between the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 95;
• Interstate 676 (entire length);
• Interstate 78 (entire length);
• Interstate 79 from the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Interstate 80;
• Interstate 80 from the New Jersey line to the junction with Interstate
81;
• Interstate 81 from the Maryland line to the junction with Interstate 80;
• Interstate 99 (entire length); and
• Interstate 176 (entire length).

In addition, also beginning at 8 PM, a full ban on commercial vehicles was
imposed on:

• Interstate 70, from the Maryland line to the Pennsylvania Turnpike;
• Interstate 83 (entire length);
• Interstate 84 (entire length); and
• Interstate 380 (entire length).

A commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle used for commerce and meets
one of
the following conditions:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or
gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 17,001 pounds or more,

whichever is greater.
• Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the
driver) for compensation.
• Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the
driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation.
• Is a school bus.
• Is transporting hazardous materials which is required to be placarded in
accordance with Department regulations.

Restrictions will remain in place as long as conditions warrant. As
conditions
develop, speed restrictions will be considered on these routes. If the
forecast
changes, PennDOT will quickly review and possibly adjust or lift the
restrictions.

If traveling during severe winter weather, motorists should make sure their
gas
tank is full and they pack an emergency kit, which should include
non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes.
Remember
also any special needs, such as baby food, pet supplies or medications.

When queues form and roadways are expected to be closed for long periods
because of crashes and other traffic disruptions, PennDOT and the
Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency can activate the 511PAConnect system to
establish
contact via cellphone to trapped motorists.

Motorists are reminded that roadways will not be free of snow while
precipitation is falling. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet
may
be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway
ramps
where ice can form without warning. Motorists should leave plenty of space
–
six car lengths --- when following a truck that is plowing or spreading
winter
materials. Also, reduced speeds are a must when traveling during snow
events.

While driving in severe weather, motorists should follow these protocols:

• always travel at a safe speed for conditions, no matter what the posted
limit
is;
• allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks; and
• never pass a truck that is actively plowing or spreading salt.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists are
encouraged to "Know Before You Go" by checking conditions on more than
40,000
roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available
24
hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic
speed
information and access to more than 850 traffic cameras. Users can also see

plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the
"Check
My Route" tool.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and
Android
devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts
accessible
on the 511PA website.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.penndot.gov. Follow local PennDOT
information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly, and follow the
department on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniadepartmentoftransportation and Instagram at
www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rich Kirkpatrick, 717-439-1787

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