The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has issued a new commercial vehicle travel ban ahead of another round of winter storms.
Starting at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, PennDOT will forbid all commercial vehicle traffic from traveling on I-70 (in Bedford and Fulton counties only) as well as the full length of I-99.
Also starting at 6 a.m. on February 20, the Pennsylvania Turnpike will forbid travel by any trucks with empty trailers or trucks hauling double trailers between exit 75 and exit 226.
Additionally, trucks with empty trailers and trucks hauling double trailers will be banned from following roadways as of 12 p.m. on February 20:
- PA Turnpike (I-76, I-276, I-95) from I-81 to I-95 (Exit 43)
- I-76 (Turnpike and non-Turnpike, New Stanton to Philadelphia)
- I-78 full length from I-81 to the New Jersey state line
- I-80 from I-99 to the New Jersey state line
- I-81 from the Maryland state line to the New York state line
- I-83 from the Maryland state line to I-81
- I-84 full length from I-81 to the New York state line
- I-176
- I-180 full length from Route 220/U.S. 15 to I-80
- I-276; PA Turnpike
- I-283
- I-295
- I-380 full length from I-81 to I-80
- I-476 (non-Turnpike, full length)
- I-476 (PA Turnpike, Northeast Ext.) from Mid County (exit 20) to Clarks Summit (exit 131)
- I-676
- Route 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey state line
- Route 33 from I-78 to I-80
Vehicles not banned from using the roadways listed above will be subject to a 45 mile per hour speed restriction.
Pennsylvania transportation officials are urging drivers to check road and weather conditions online before they begin traveling at 511PA.
A similar truck ban was issued for February 12 ahead of winter weather. During that ban, Pennsylvania State Police aggressively patrolled the restricted roadways and issued 827 citations and 59 warnings to truck drivers.
The fine for violating the truck ban is $300 plus court costs.