PennDOT Issues Winter Weather Travel Ban On Commercial Vehicles

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – Effective at midnight tonight, Monday, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike are implementing a winter weather travel ban on commercial vehicles along a number of interstates expected to see a heavy dose of sleet and snow.

Snow is creating slippery travel in Pennsylvania and Maryland tonight. A coating to an inch of snow has already fallen in parts of the region: https://t.co/tYIZQjgw6W pic.twitter.com/na2ShTMK39
— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) February 11, 2019

At midnight tonight, a full commercial vehicle ban (including buses) will be in place on I-70 in Fulton County (from the Maryland state line to the Turnpike) and on I-99 from I-80 to the Turnpike. Also at midnight, from New Stanton east to Carlisle, the Turnpike will prohibit:

empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks;
all Large Combination Vehicles (double trailers);
tractors hauling empty trailers;
any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs;
all motorcycles; and
all recreational vehicles and RVs.

At 6:00 AM Tuesday, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike will implement a full commercial vehicle ban (including buses) on the following roadways:

Interstate 380 full length from I-81 to I-80;
I-80 from I-79 to the New Jersey state line;
I-81 from I-78 to the New York state line;
I-84 full length from I-81 to the New York state line;
I-476 (PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from I-78 to Clarks Summit (exit 131); and
I-180 full length from Route 220/U.S. 15 to I-80.

Also at 6:00 AM Tuesday, PennDOT and the PA Turnpike will prohibit only empty, straight CDL-weighted trucks; all Large Combination Vehicles (double trailers); tractors hauling empty trailers; any trailers pulled by motorcycles, passenger vehicles, pickup trucks or SUVs; all motorcycles; and all recreational vehicles and RVs on the following roadways:

PA Turnpike (I-76, I-276, I-95) from I-81 to the New Jersey state line;
I-176;
I-283;
I-476 (non-Turnpike, full length);
I-476 (PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from Mid-County (#20) to Lehigh Valley (exit 56);
I-676;
I-76 (Turnpike and non-Turnpike, New Stanton to Philadelphia);
I-78 full length from I-81 to the New Jersey state line;
I-81 from the Maryland state line to I-78 split;
I-83 from the Maryland state line to I-81;
I-95 full length;
Route 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey state line; and
Route 33 from I-78 to I-80.

A 45-mph speed restriction will be in place on all roadways with vehicle restrictions at least during those timeframes and may be implemented sooner and on non-vehicle-restricted roadways as well.

In a release, PennDOT said that depending on conditions, restrictions may be expanded or reduced. See a map of planned restrictions (PDF) at www.penndot.gov, and when restrictions are effective, they can be viewed at www.511PA.com.

This ban comes on the heels of a winter weather travel ban on truckers issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York just a couple of weeks ago. Since issuing the ban, Gov. Cuomo has come under intensifying scrutiny especially by the Small Business in Transportation Coalition.

Fearing a similar scene that played out over the weekend in Wisconsin when officials had to sort through a 40 vehicle crash near Osseo in Eau Claire County which included 7 semi-trucks, PennDOT has chosen to follow the same path as Gov. Cuomo.

State patrol has been responding to multi vehicle crash at MM 85 near Osseo in Eau Claire Cty. 40 vehicles; including 7 semis & 33 automobiles. All traffic is being rerouted. Avoid this area. Extreme caution is recommended as the snow is creating slippery road conditions. pic.twitter.com/53Fe9TUf0E
— WisDOT NW Region (@WisDOTnorthwest) February 10, 2019