Driving Alert Issued On PA Turnpike, Area Highways For Storm

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Department of Transportation is warning drivers to use caution as a winter storm may cause havoc on the PA Turnpike and highways throughout the Philadelphia region this weekend.

PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm and to exercise caution when driving. PennDOT will also implement various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm.

The storm is expected to begin early Saturday morning in the northwest and move eastward through the state throughout the day and into the evening.

Snow will be initially light, but snowfall rates could reach ½ inch to 1 inch per hour in some areas in the northwest and southwest.

Snow is expected to end Sunday morning, but winds could pick up after snow has ended, and a band of lake-effect snow is expected to follow in western portions of the state.

PennDOT and PA Turnpike crews will actively pre-treat roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to help prevent ice from forming a bond with the pavement during the early stages of a storm.

However, salt does not resolve all risks, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form.

Restrictions are planned for certain vehicles during the storm, and will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website, and smartphone apps.

Drivers can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website. Restrictions will be lifted as quickly as possible when conditions are safe. Restrictions can be changed based on conditions on the roadways, and reports from first responders, law enforcement, and PennDOT personnel.

Vehicle Restrictions

The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 2 p.m. on Saturday in accordance with Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.

• PA Turnpike Interstate 76 from Cranberry (Exit 28) to Breezewood (Exit 161).
• PA Turnpike Mon-Fayette Expressway (Route 43), entire length.
• PA Turnpike Southern Beltway (I-576), entire length.
• PA Turnpike Route 66, entire length.
• PA Turnpike Beaver Valley Expressway (Route 60), entire length.
• I-70 from the West Virginia border to PA Turnpike I-76.
• I-79 from PA Turnpike I-76 to the West Virginia border.
• I-279, full length.
• I-376 from PA Turnpike I-376 to PA Turnpike I-76.
• I-579, full length.

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.

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.

While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if motorists 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.

When winter weather occurs, drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:

• Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.
• Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.
• When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width.
• Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a "plow train." The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.
• Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can't see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack.
• Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle's wipers are on due to inclement weather.

Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways. Eleven of the people who died weren’t wearing a seat belt, and 17 of the fatalities were in crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane.