PennDOT lifts speed limit restrictions after Thursday morning snow

PITTSBURGH — UPDATE 8 a.m. (2/18/21): The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has lifted its speed limit restrictions.

ORIGINAL STORY: In response to winter weather throughout much of the state on Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are planning to implement travel restrictions on trucks and other vehicles on certain roadways. Additional speed and vehicle restrictions on these and other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions. Motorists are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel if possible.

Effective at 1 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18:

• I-70 from the Maryland border to the PA Turnpike;
• PA Turnpike I-76 (Mainline) in both directions from Cranberry (Exit 161) to Valley Forge (Exit 326);
• PA Turnpike 66 (Greensburg Bypass) from Rt 119/I-70 to Rt. 22/Blairsville;
• I-81 from the Maryland border to I-78;
• The entire length of I-83;
• The entire length of I-99; and
• The entire length of I-283.

Effective at 4 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18:

• Rt. 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey border;
• The entire length of Rt. 33;
• PA Turnpike I-76 and I-276 (mainline) in both directions from Valley Forge (Exit 326) to the I-95 connector.
• The entire length of I-78;
• I-80 from I-99 to the New Jersey border;
• I-81 from I-78 to I-84;
• The entire length of I-84;
• The entire length of I-176;
• The entire length of I-380; and
• PA Turnpike I-476 (Northeastern Extension) from Mid County exit (Exit 20) to Clarks Summit (Exit 131).

Under the restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roads:

• 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 cargo delivery 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 not carrying chains or Alternate Traction Devices; and
• Motorcycles.

PennDOT urges motorists to avoid travel during the storm if possible. But if travel is necessary, use caution, reduce speeds and be aware of changing weather conditions. Freezing temperatures are expected during this event, so motorists should be aware of blowing and drifting snow, which can cause icy areas on roadways, including overpasses and bridges. With freezing temperatures, roads that only look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning.

Governor Tom Wolf announced that multiple state agencies will staff the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center starting at midnight Wednesday in advance of the winter storm.

“We know that this storm will make travel difficult, and I encourage anyone who doesn’t need to be out on the roads to stay home,” Wolf said in a release. “PEMA, PennDOT, the PA Turnpike and the State Police will be monitoring conditions across the state to ensure that commonwealth assistance can be delivered quickly when needed.”

According to the National Weather Service, a significant winter storm will push in from south to north tonight, overspreading much of the commonwealth with snow by daybreak. The majority of the snow will fall during the day Thursday before wrapping up early Friday as snow showers. There may be a period of briefly heavy snow from the morning to midafternoon hours on Thursday, especially for areas south of I-80 and east of I-99. Temperatures stay below freezing, which should keep this storm to all snow except for the Philadelphia area.

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.

Snowy morning and afternoon commutes

Cox Media Group