Latest winter storm prompts travel restrictions

Several states are restricting travel by commercial vehicles as much of the Midwest and Northeast have gotten or are getting significant amounts of snow and high winds.

Travel restriction s for tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are in place in all or parts of:

• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania

The National Weather Service says that as a coastal storm strengthens overnight and into Monday morning, bands of heavy snow look to set up over an area stretching from eastern Pennsylvania and the New York City metro area to southern New England. The storm is expected to drop what the weather service is calling “copious amounts of snow” in these areas through the day Monday and even into Tuesday.

The weather service’s latest forecast calls for over a foot of snow across a large portion of eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southern New York, and into southern New England with totals over in excess of 20 inches in some locations. Gusty winds will help to reduce visibilities and lead to both blowing and drifting snow.

The weather service says “treacherous travel conditions are expected throughout the Northeast as the storm continues to generate periods of snow that stick around into the day on Tuesday.” Snow is expected to taper off for most areas by Tuesday night with the lone exception being northern New England where snow may continue into Wednesday morning, according to the weather service.

Parts of the Midwest continue to di=g out from a major storm there.

New Jersey governor declares state of emergency

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and the state’s Department of Transportation issued the following as part of an administrative order today, Sunday, Jan. 31:

Pennsylvania issues restrictions on trucks, other vehicles

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is advising motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel and anticipates it will implement travel restrictions on trucks and other vehicles on certain roadways around the state, which will remain in place until conditions warrant their removal. PennDOT issued the following:

Effective at noon on Sunday, Jan. 31, vehicle restrictions are anticipated on the following roadways that align with Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:

• • Interstate 70 in both directions from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) to the Maryland state line;
  • The entire length of Interstate 78 in both directions;
  • Interstate 80 from Interstate 81 to the New Jersey state line;
  • The entire length of Interstate 81 in both directions;
  • The entire length of Interstate 83 in both directions;
  • The entire length of Interstate 84 in both directions; and
  • The entire length of Interstate 380 in both directions.

Additional speed and vehicle restrictions on these and other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

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 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 (ATD’s); and
  • Motorcycles.

Restrictions will be 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 www.511pa.com by clicking on “Personal Alerts” in the left-hand menu.