Due the continued winter weather conditions, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has placed vehicle and speed restrictions on some interstates in the Northwest Region.
The purpose of the restriction is to help ensure the interstates remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm. When conditions improve, PennDOT will remove the travel restrictions.
The following restrictions are effect as of 7:30 AM on Friday, Jan. 19, in the Northwest Region in accordance with the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:
Interstate 79:
- Tier 2 vehicle restriction from the I-80 interchange in Mercer County to the West Virginia state border.
- 45 mph speed reduction with commercial vehicles not covered by the Tier 2 restriction allowed in the right lane only from the I-80 interchange in Mercer County to the I-376 interchange in Allegheny County.
Interstate 80:
- Tier 1 vehicle restriction from the Ohio state border to the New Jersey state border.
- 45 mph speed reduction with commercial vehicles not covered by the Tier 1 restriction allowed in the right lane only from the starting point in Mercer County to the ending point in Allegheny County.
Interstate 376:
- Tier 2 vehicle restriction for the entire length of the highway from Mercer County to Allegheny County.
- 45 mph speed reduction with commercial vehicles not covered by the Tier 2 restriction allowed in the right lane only from Exit 5 (Route 208, New Wilmington/Pulaski) in Lawrence County to the ending point in Allegheny County.
Check www.511PA.com for additional information on restrictions throughout in place throughout the state.
Restrictions are communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website at www.511PA.com and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for alerts on the website.
Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:
- Tractors without trailers.
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers.
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers.
- Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV.
- Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers.
- Recreational vehicles/motorhomes.
- School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches.
- Motorcycles.
On roadways with Tier 2 restrictions in place, vehicles prohibited under Tier 1 are not permitted, as well as:
- Commercial vehicles towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs).
- All loaded or unloaded school buses, commercial buses, and motor coaches regardless of the availability of chains or ATDs.
Although PennDOT crews will be treating roadways as needed, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.
While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 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 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/winter.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.gov/District1.