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    PennDOT Restores Speeds on Some Interstates in Northwest Region

    January 19, 2024

    ​The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has lifted the speed limit restrictions that were in effect on Interstate 79 in Mercer County and Interstate 80 in Mercer and Venango counties.

    Speed limit restrictions remain in effect on the following highways in Erie County:

    • I-79 from Exit 166 (Route 6N – Albion/Edinboro) to the end of I-79;

    • I-86 from the beginning of I-86 to the New York state line; and

    • I-90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line.

    The following vehicle restrictions also remain in effect in the Northwest Region in accordance with the commonwealth's weather event vehicle restriction plan: 

    Interstate 79:
    • Tier 2 vehicle restriction from the I-80 interchange in Mercer County to the West Virginia state border.
    Interstate 80:
    • Tier 1 vehicle restriction from the Ohio state border to the New Jersey state border.

    Interstate 376:

    • Tier 2 vehicle restriction for the entire length of the highway from Mercer County to Allegheny County.

    The purpose of the restrictions is to help ensure the interstates remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm. When conditions improve, PennDOT will remove the travel restrictions.                     

    Check www.511PA.com for additional information on restrictions throughout in place throughout the state.

    Restrictions are 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 the website.

    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 unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box 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. 

    Motorcycles. 



    On roadways with Tier 2 restrictions in place, vehicles prohibited under Tier 1 are not permitted, as well as:

    • Commercial vehicles towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs).

    • All loaded or unloaded school buses, commercial buses, and motor coaches regardless of the availability of chains or ATDs.

    Although PennDOT crews will be treating roadways as needed, the department's primary goal is to keep roads passable, 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 1,000 traffic cameras.

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

    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 www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.

    Follow PennDOT's northwest region on X or Facebook.

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