Heavy snow triggers commercial vehicle restrictions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania

With heavy snow on the way, transportation officials in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have issued new commercial vehicle travel restrictions for Thursday.

Heavy snow is expected in the northeastern U.S. throughout the day Thursday and into Friday. Transportation authorities are asking drivers to avoid any unnecessary travel.

New Jersey Travel Restrictions

Effective at 4 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) banned commercial vehicles from the following roadways:

• I-78, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-80, from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-195, from I-295 to NJ Route 138I-280, from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• I-287, from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
• I-295, from Exit 60 (I-195) north to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania border)
• NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287

The restriction applies to the following vehicle types:

• All tractor trailers
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

NJDOT reminds drivers that “Trucks that are already in New Jersey when the travel restrictions go into place are encouraged to pull off in truck stops to wait out the storm – DO NOT PARK ON SHOULDERS.”

Follow www.511NJ.org for the latest travel information from NJDOT.

Pennsylvania Travel Restrictions

Effective at 4 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, Tier 1 travel restrictions are in place on the following Pennsylvania roadways:

• Route 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties;
• Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties;
• 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; and 
• Interstate 380 in Monroe County.

The following vehicle types are included in Tier 1 restrictions:

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 cargo delivery 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 not carrying chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATD’s)
• Motorcycles

Starting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, PennDOT is reducing the speed limit to 45 m.p.h. on Route 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties and Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties for all vehicles while the vehicle restrictions are in place. All trucks are restricted to the right lane on any roadway with a speed restriction in place.

Follow www.511pa.com for the most up to date travel information from PennDOT.