(WBRE/WYOU)— The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is putting in place some traffic restrictions as winter weather starts to creep into our area.
PennDOT is temporarily reducing speed limits to 45 mph and restricting commercial vehicles to the right lane only for the following roadways:
- Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties.
- Interstate 80 in Luzerne, Monroe, Carbon Counties.
- Interstate 81 in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna counties.
- Interstate 84 in Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne counties.
- Interstate 176 in Berks County.
- Interstate 380 in Lackawanna, Monroe, and Wayne counties.
- The entire length of Interstate 180.
- US 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
- US 222 in Berks and Lehigh counties.
- US 422 in Berks County.
- PA 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.
In addition, the following tier restrictions are or will be in place:
The following vehicle restrictions are in effect, in accordance with Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
- Interstate 80 from I-79 to Exit 173.
- I-99, entire length.
- Interstate 81 from Schuylkill County to the New York line.
The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 4:00 PM, in accordance with Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
- I-80 from Exit 173 to I-81.
- I-81 from I-78 to I-80.
- I-180, entire 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.
PennDOT is also advising commercial trucks and large trucks to avoid the following roadways due to steep grades in north central Pennsylvania:
- Route 44 between Route 554 in Elimsport, Washington Township, and Route 654 in Limestone Township, just south of Jersey Shore Borough, Lycoming County.
- Route 54 between Route 487 in Ralpho Township and Route 61 in Mount Carmel Township in Northumberland County.
Restrictions will be 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.