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    Interstate 79 Closed in Erie and Mercer Counties

    Speed Restrictions Remain in Effect on All Interstates in the Northwest Region

    January 15, 2026

    Due to the ongoing winter storm, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, especially on Interstate 79 between Erie and Mercer counties.

    Closures are currently in place on the following portions of I-79:

    • Northbound near Exit 174 (McKean) in Erie County. Vehicles are being detoured using the on/off ramps.
    • Northbound and southbound in Mercer County from the Interstate 80 interchange to Exit 130 (Route 358, Greenville/Sandy Lake).

    All closures will remain in effect until the scenes have been cleared.

    PennDOT temporarily reduced the speed limit to 45 mph on the following interstates in the northwest region earlier today:

    • Interstate 79 from the Interstate 80 interchange in Mercer County to the end point in Erie County.
    • Interstate 80 from the Ohio State line to Exit 97 (Route 219, Dubois/Brockway) in Clearfield County.
    • Interstate 86 from the Interstate 90 interchange to the New York state line.
    • Interstate 90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line.
    • Interstate 376 from the Interstate 80 interchange to Exit 13A (Route 224, Poland) in Lawrence County. 

    On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roads must move to the right lane.

    Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, and they will 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 1,200 traffic cameras. 

    511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

    Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at http://www.pa.gov/DOTDistrict1. 

    Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook. 

    MEDIA CONTACT: Saxon Daugherty, sadaughert@pa.gov or 814-678-7095

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