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    High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes to Close Thursday Night in Pittsburgh

    February 05, 2026

    Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the upcoming winter storm, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing restrictions on the I-279 and I-579 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the City of Pittsburgh and Ross Township, Allegheny County will begin Thursday night, February 5.

    The HOV lanes will close to traffic beginning at approximately 11:00 PM Thursday night due to anticipated weather conditions. Crews will monitor the roads and determine when the HOV lanes are safe to reopen. Additional information will be provided in advance of reopening the HOV lanes.

     

    While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter weather conditions is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if drivers must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow: 

    • Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
    • Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
    • Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
    • Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
    • Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
    • Use your defroster and wipers.
    • Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
    • During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
    • Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
    • Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
    • Always buckle up and never drive impaired. 
    • Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.

    While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, drivers 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.

    Drivers should always allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, drivers should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

    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.

     

    Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

    MEDIA CONTACT: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov or 412-429-5044

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