Due to the ongoing winter weather, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, especially on interstates, where the speed limit remains reduced in parts of the northwest region.
Closures are currently in place on the following interstates due to multi-vehicle crashes:
- Interstate 80 Eastbound – Between Exit 35 (Route 308, Clintonville) and Exit 42 (Route 38, Emlenton).
- Interstate 90 Eastbound – Between Exit 9 (Route 18, Girard/Platea) and Exit 16 (Route 98, Fairview/Franklin Center.
The closures will remain in effect until the scenes have been cleared.
Speed limit restrictions to 45 mph remain in effect on the following highways:
- Interstate 79 – From the Interstate 90 interchange to the end point in Erie County.
- Interstate 80 – From the Ohio state line to Exit 45 (Route 478, St. Petersburg/Emlenton) in Clarion 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.
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.
Motorists should always 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 account for 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 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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