Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County in east central Pennsylvania.
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the interstate.
On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.
Additionally, vehicle restrictions have been implemented on several roads in east central Pennsylvania.
The following vehicle restrictions are currently in-place in east central PA, in accordance with the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:
• Tier 1:
• I-80 in Carbon and Monroe counties;
• Tier 2:
• I-78 in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties;
• I-81 in Schuylkill County;
• I-176 in Berks County;
• Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.
• U.S. 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
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 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.
The department also asks motorists to 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.gov/winter.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Berks, Carbon. Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District5.
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