PennDOT has lifted the temporary restriction on certain vehicles from traveling on Interstate 380 in Monroe County in east central Pennsylvania.
Due to the winter storm impacting the region, PennDOT temporarily restricted certain vehicles from using some interstates earlier to help ensure that the interstates remained open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm.
The vehicle restrictions reflected Tier 3 of the commonwealth's weather event vehicle restriction plan (PDF).
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will still see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following roadways:
• Interstate 80 between exits 273 (PA 940 / PA 437) and 293 (JCT I-380) in Carbon and Monroe counties; and
• Interstate 380 in Monroe County.
Commercial vehicles must stay in the right lane while the speed restrictions are in place on these roads. Additional restrictions on other roadways could be added depending on changing conditions.
Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, 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 Twitter alerts.
The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.
PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.
More information about how to prepare for any type of emergency, including free downloadable checklists of items to keep in your home, car, and at work, and specific information for people with access and functional needs or pets, is available on the Ready PA webpage.
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 Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties at www.penndot.gov/District5.
Follow regional PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAAllentown, and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.
Contact: Ronald J. Young, Jr., M.P.A., ronyoung@pa.gov or 610-871-4555; Sean Brown, sebrown@pa.gov or 610-871-4556
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