Frequently Asked Questions

​A district is a region of the state. PennDOT has divided the state into 11 districts. Each has a district executive who oversees all roads and bridges in their part of the state. See our Regional Offices page to view a map of the state showing PennDOT districts. 

​Each district offers a subscription list to receive news updates. To subscribe, click on your district on the Regional Offices page. Then submit your email in the news subscription widget.

Some districts also offer week road reports directly on their page.

You also may visit 511PA, where you can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles. 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.

Contact information can be searched on the Contact PennDOT page.  You can filter this informaton by district or information type, which can help guide you to the right contact.

​Visit our Contact PennDOT webpage and search for your district to find district contact information for the community relations coordinator (CRC).  The CRC for your district can discuss possible speakers for your organization's meeting.

​PennDOT provides a list of Welcome Centers, as well as an online map.

Staff at our 14 Welcome Centers can provide information on regional attractions, travel or accommodation assistance. The centers are open seven days a week, including most holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

​All PennDOT job vacancies are posted through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employment site.

First, there are two types of service within the commonwealth: civil service and non-civil service. Second, you’ll notice that we have two different types of postings. They are:

• Vacancy postings
• Exam postings (in-person and online)

Vacancy Postings

Exam Postings

Some civil service-covered jobs require you to complete an exam, either online or in-person, before you can apply for a vacancy. The exam postings are listed as "Civil Service Written/Online Exam for Future Vacancies" on our website. Learn more on the Applying to an Exam page.

PennDOT is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and promotes workforce diversity. Find a list of open opportunities by visiting the Commonwealth employment site, and apply today!

Job-seekers can subscribe to job alerts and receive email notifications when jobs are posted in the categories they select. There is not currently a method to be alerted to jobs specifically at PennDOT.

​If you have questions regarding employment with the commonwealth or need assistance, you can fill out the E‌m‌p‌l‌o‌y‌m‌e‌n‌t‌ ‌Contact Us Form or call 717-787-7811 or Telephone Relay Service (TRS): 711.

​Local municipalities and PennDOT are responsible for setting speed limits.

​Contact your local municipality. The municipality will then request an engineering and traffic study to be done by PennDOT.

Pennsylvania law requires a speed limit of 35 M.P.H. when, "The territory contiguous to and including any street which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet or distance of a quarter of a mile or more."

Therefore, when you are entering a town, you must by law, decrease your speed to 35 M.P.H. When you are leaving the town, the speed limit usually increases because the area is not as condensed. The township posts the speed limit, which is usually higher than a borough.

​Traffic lines are traffic control devices that are designed according to the safety need(s) of the route(s).

Call the regional traffic unit with the state route number and specified segment, such as SR4003 SEG 10. State route numbers can be found on the rectangular white signs with black letters posted along the state routes.

​Only school districts can request a study of a student-walking route. Contact the District Traffic Unit for information and the school district can request a study.

The municipality is responsible for controlling or maintaining traffic and the liability associated with a road closure. Please contact the municipality, and they will inform PennDOT's local engineering office.

​PennDOT uses these herbicides: Round-Up, Escort, Arsenal, Garlon-3A, Oust, Karmex, Vanquish, Krenite-S, Assure II, and Rodeo. There are few, if any, environmental problems with these herbicides. Each has caution labels, pasture labels, ditch bank labels, or aquatic labels and are used where specified. All herbicides are applied under the direction of a licensed applicator.

PennDOT mows along the interstates and state roads at least three times a year. Mowing is done for safety reasons, and this frequency is the most cost-effective cycle to control vegetation.

​Vegetation management beautifies the state's roadways, makes them safer, more accessible and enhances the scenery.

Mowing, pesticide spraying and selected tree thinning are the processes that make up the management program.

PennDOT mows approximately 112,000 acres annually from May through October. How often roads are mowed is determined by their traffic volume and posted speed limit as well as growth height.

In areas in which mowers cannot safely travel, herbicide is applied to the roadside vegetation. Herbicide use is more cost effective than tree cutting or trimming. Herbicides control the extensive root systems of invasive plants. All three activities maintain visibility on the roadsides.

A typical tree trimming crew consists of a foreman, equipment operator and four to five crew members. Tree thinning equipment includes a crew cab, dump truck, wood chipper, chain saws and other hand tools as required. For mowing, PennDOT uses 228 department-owned tractor mowers and contract mowers.

Vegetation management is emphasized during the growing season and extends through the winter, when snow removal isn't required.

​Large animals, such as deer, bear, and elk, are the responsibility of the Game Commission. If these or any other dead animals are found on a state road or bridge, the local PennDOT county office should be contacted, and arrangements will be made for removal.

​Chapter 445 OAD Control

Chapter 451 Junkyard Control

Chapter 495 Leasing of Real Property

​Every project is prepared with a Maintenance and Protection of Traffic Plan (MPT) signed by the District Traffic Engineer and the Assistant District Engineer for Construction. The MPT gives direction to the contractor about when he can work on the roadway, take out lanes of traffic, detour traffic, etc. This direction is based on our best analysis of traffic flow and is sensitive to peak traffic volumes. Our primary construction season is from April through October. We try to complete projects during this timeframe and not during peak travelling times but sometimes an extenuating circumstance intervenes.

​In some cases, our contractors do work on highways during the overnight hours. Some are required to work during these hours, especially on expressway projects and other high speed, high volume highways. Many contractors have the option to choose their schedule, however, working at night on our busy highways is more dangerous for both the workers and drivers. Plus, working at night is more expensive, the work area is required to be illuminated for safety and quality control. Additionally, given the current budget challenges, PennDOT needs to be responsible with our funds.

​In some cases, our contractors do work on highways during the overnight hours. Some are required to work during these hours, especially on expressway projects and other high speed, high volume highways. Many contractors have the option to choose their schedule, however, working at night on our busy highways is more dangerous for both the workers and drivers. Plus, working at night is more expensive, the work area is required to be illuminated for safety and quality control. Additionally, given the current budget challenges, PennDOT needs to be responsible with our funds.

​To report a pothole on any state road in Pennsylvania please visit, http://customercare.penndot.gov. This will allow us to track the concern by location. You may also report by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD with specific information including: name of county, name of township or borough, name of road, and closest intersection.

​Some projects appear to take long because of the type of work being completed. Many construction projects are phased to prevent complete closure of the roadway to traffic or establishing a detour, whenever possible. Some other direct factors are material availability, utility relocation work required, sub-contractor work requirements and complexity of the structural work involved. Indirect factors are traffic volume, right-of-way, contractors staffing and contractor equipment requirements

​Volunteers beautify roadsides two miles at a time. You or your civic or volunteer group sign a two-year agreement to pick up litter at least two times a year. In return, PennDOT posts recognition signs along the adopted roadway giving you or your group full credit for your efforts. If you would like to adopt a highway, please visit the adopt a highway website for more information. 

​The Department of Transportation currently uses many devices to track storms, including weather radar, pavement sensors, and forecasting services. These elements enable PennDOT to quickly mobilize our employees and equipment and get a head start on approaching winter storms.

​PennDOT services roads on a priority basis according to traffic volume. State roads with the highest amount of traffic, such as interstates and four-lanes, receive service first, followed by secondary roads. During a winter storm, PennDOT employees work around-the-clock so that all types of roads receive adequate service in priority order.

Salt, anti-skid, or a combination of these are applied to roadways during snow and ice removal operations. Anti-skid is a natural or man-made aggregate material such as sand fine stone, or a manufacturing by-product. Salt helps to melt the snow or ice and the anti-skid provides for traction. The amount of material on the roadway depends on type of road, type and duration of storm, and temperature. Additional pre-treating and anti-icing materials including magnesium chloride and liquid calcium chloride are currently being evaluated.

​Salt, anti-skid, or a combination of these are applied to roadways during snow and ice removal operations. Anti-skid is a natural or man-made aggregate material such as sand fine stone, or a manufacturing by-product. Salt helps to melt the snow or ice and the anti-skid provides for traction. The amount of material on the roadway depends on type of road, type and duration of storm, and temperature. Additional pre-treating and anti-icing materials including magnesium chloride and liquid calcium chloride are currently being evaluated.

​Often, only one lane is plowed because the driving lane has the highest priority during the storm. Whenever possible, tandem plowing, or two trucks plowing side by side, takes place.

​The driver must adjust his or her vehicle speed according to various conditions such as heavy or wet snow, ice, or residential areas. If traveling too fast, anti-skid will not stay on the road. Before you decide to pass a truck, however, ask yourself, "Is this pass really necessary?" Passing a snowplow can be extremely dangerous. There is never a safe time to pass, but if you must, do it with extreme caution.

​The normal safe following distance between two vehicles (two-second rule) should be doubled during inclement weather. When following a truck, your headlights should be on low beam. Remember every truck has blind spots. This is an area to the side and rear not visible by the driver of the vehicle; it is greater for trucks. In addition, following too closely increases your chances of loose material flying up and damaging your vehicle.

​Because the air below the bridges tends to cool the bridge faster than the normal road surface. Also, be cautious of shaded areas that don't receive sunlight and drifted areas along the road.

​Black ice is a thin layer of transparent ice not always visible on the roadway but very slippery.

Avoid slamming on your brakes on slippery roads. Hard braking can lock you wheels and cause loss of steering. Apply brakes gently and ease off when you start to skid. Turn wheel in direction of the skid.

If you have anti-lock brakes, pumping is not recommended. Refer to your car manual about how anti-lock brakes differ from standard brakes. Most important, drive smart! Think ahead! Drive at a reduced speed!

​Clean snow and ice from your windows and mirrors before traveling. Make sure all lights are working, and always use your headlights during a storm. Keep wiper blades in good condition and all fluid levels full. Check tires for tread and proper inflation, as well as add weight to rear-wheel drive vehicles. Finally, carry emergency equipment in your car such as flares, a shovel, chains, flashlight, jumper cables, sand, a hat, boots and gloves.

​Remember this: Drive cautiously and slowly, and avoid making any sudden moves, fast turns, quick acceleration, and hard braking.

​By legislation, PennDOT is required to maintain the traveled cart way, which is defined as traveled lanes, as a priority. When limited storage space or shoulder areas allow no alternative, the decision must be made to either plow the highway at the risk of the sidewalk or to do nothing. Based on case law in Commonwealth Court, PennDOT may inconvenience the property owner by plowing snow on the sidewalk rather than allowing snow accumulation to become a hazard on the highway. In consideration of our customers, we always recommend that where minimal storage space for plowed snow is an issue, our operators should exercise caution and minimize the impact on sidewalks whenever possible.

​Frequently, it appears that PennDOT plows driveways shut after the property owners have already plowed their driveways. These complaints occur on our rural systems due to the fact that our highways are plowed in a priority order, beginning with the highest traffic volume routes and working toward the lower, or rural, traffic routes.

Consequently, rural driveway owners have completed the removal of snow on their driveways prior to our plowing operations. Further complicating this issue is our method of plowing cart ways (traveled width) first, then following up with a cleanup and widening operation. This frequently results in the driveway owner immediately plowing his or her driveway after our truck makes its first pass, only to discover that our cleanup and widening pass deposits additional snow.

Several ways that the impact of the plowing operation can be minimized are to remove snow only to approximately 10 feet from the end of your driveway until all passes are made by the snowplows. Another method is to clean an area in addition to your driveway on the right side of your driveway facing it from the roadway. This allows a plow blade full of snow to be deposited before it reaches your driveway.

​Studded snow tires are permissible from November 1 until April 15.

​For current Interstate road conditions throughout Pennsylvania, people can call 1-888-783-6783. For those with Internet access, statewide road conditions are also available on  www.511pa.com.

​Generally, PennDOT is not held responsible for damage caused by the application of abrasives for winter services unless vehicles are struck directly from material leaving our spreaders and the claimant can demonstrate gross negligence on the part of our equipment operator. The Department of General Services claim form is available at PennDOT county offices for the claimants to exercise their right to attempt reimbursement.

​Typically, this damage occurs during very heavy snowfalls requiring the use of loaders and large snow blowers, which do not perform in the same manner as our truck-mounted snowplows. However, the damage is generally confined to the legal right-of-way. While it is unsightly, the frequency and severity are proportional to the snow depths. PennDOT does not repair these turf damages or remove deposited debris within the right-of-way limits on a routine basis. If property owners insist on reimbursement for conditions that occur beyond the legal right-of-way, we supply the standard Department of General Services claim form, which is available through the PennDOT county offices.

​Contact the Highway Occupancy Permit Inspector assigned to the PennDOT maintenance office for your county of residence. In many cases, paving of a driveway is considered "maintenance only" and it would only be necessary to have the proper traffic control to do the work. It is always necessary to contact the PennDOT permit inspector first to determine if this is your situation.

​A permit is required when a driveway, local road or drainage facility, or structure is constructed or altered within state highway right-of-way and may alter or need to be connected to a PennDOT drainage facility. It may take 30-90 days for a permit to be issued.

​Contact the Highway Occupancy Permit Inspector in the PennDOT maintenance office in your county to initiate the proper procedure for installing sidewalks and curbs in accordance with state regulations.