PennDOT has changed the temporary Tier 4 restrictions on certain vehicles from traveling on interstates and expressways in east central Pennsylvania to Tier 3 restrictions.
Due to the winter storm impacting the region, PennDOT is temporarily restricting certain vehicles from using interstates and expressways to help ensure that they remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm.
The following vehicle restrictions are in effect in accordance with Tier 3 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
· Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
· Interstate 80 in Carbon and Monroe counties.
· Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.
· Interstate 176 in Berks County.
· Interstate 380 in Monroe County.
· U.S. 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
· Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.
On roadways with Tier 3 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.
Speed limits will be restricted to 45 mph on these roadways for all vehicles while the vehicle restrictions are in place, and commercial vehicles not affected by the restrictions must move to the right lane. Additional speed restrictions on other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.
Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, 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 Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District5. Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ronald J. Young, Jr., M.P.A., 610-871-4555, ronyoung@pa.gov; Sean A. Brown, 610-871-4556, sebrown@pa.gov
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