With a major snowstorm bearing down on the northeast, states have issued vehicle travel restrictions for multiple roadways — here’s what you need to know for Monday.
As of 9 a.m. on Monday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) reports that some portions of the northeast have already seen a foot of snow.
The storm is expected to intensify throughout the day Monday and into Monday night, with snowfall rates of 2-4″ per hour possible.
Transportation officials in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have responded to the winter storm by issuing travel restrictions. See below for details.
Pennsylvania Travel Restrictions
Effective 9 a.m. on Monday morning, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) have implemented Tier 4, Tier 3, and Tier 1 restrictions on multiple roadways.
Effective at 9:00 a.m., vehicle restrictions are in place at Tier 3 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:
- Interstate 76/276/95 (PA Turnpike mainline) from Interstate 81 (Carlisle Interchange, Exit 226) to the New Jersey border;
- Interstate 80 from Interstate 99 to Interstate 81;
- Interstate 80 from I-99 at the 161/Bellefonte interchange in Centre County through Clinton County at mile-marker 192
- The entire length of Interstate 81 in both directions;
- The entire length of Interstate 83 in both directions;
- Interstate 283 in both directions;
- Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 276 (PA Turnpike mainline) to Interstate 78 (Lehigh Valley Interchange, Exit 56); and
- Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 80 (Pocono Interchange, Exit 95) to Interstate 81 (Clarks Summit Interchange, Exit 131)
Under Tier 3 restrictions, no commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.
Effective at 9:00 a.m., Tier 4 vehicle restrictions are in place on the following roadways:
- Route 22 from Interstate 78 to the New Jersey border;
- The entire length of Route 33 in both directions;
- The entire length of Interstate 78 in both directions;
- Interstate 80 from Interstate 81 to the New Jersey border;
- The entire length of Interstate 84 in both directions;
- The entire length of Interstate 380 in both directions; and
- Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 78 (Lehigh Valley Interchange, Exit 56) to Interstate 80 (Pocono Interchange, Exit 95).
Under Tier 4 restrictions, no commercial vehicles are permitted. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.
Tier 1 restrictions remain in effect on the following roadways:
- Interstate 70 in both directions from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) to the Maryland state line;
- Interstate 76 (PA Turnpike mainline) from Breezewood Interchange, Exit 161, to Interstate 81 (Carlisle Interchange, Exit 226)
- Interstate 80 in both directions from Interstate 99 to Interstate 79; and
- The entire length of Interstate 99 in both directions.
- I-80 from mile-marker 97/Falls Creek to mile-marker 161/Bellefonte—both directions.
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 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); and
- Motorcycles.
PennDOT says that the restrictions will remain in place until weather conditions improve. Follow the latest PennDOT travel information by visiting www.511pa.com.
New Jersey Travel Restrictions
Effective at noon on Sunday, commercial vehicles are banned from the following roadways in both directions:
- I-76, from the Walt Whitman Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to NJ Route 42
- 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 138· I-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 the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania border)
- I-676, from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to I-76
- NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287
The commercial vehicle travel ban does NOT apply to:
- The New Jersey Turnpike
- The Garden State Parkway
- The Atlantic City Expressway
The commercial vehicle restrictions apply to the following vehicle types:
- All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order)
- Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
- Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
- Recreational vehicles
- Motorcycles
The New Jersey Department of Transportation also advises “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.”
For the latest travel information from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, please click here.
New York Travel Restrictions
Effective at 5 a.m. on Monday, the New York State Department of Transportation has issued the following truck travel restrictions.
- Short and long tandems are banned on portions of the New York State Thruway, including I-87 from the New York City Line to Exit 24 in Albany, as well as on all of I-95 and I-287
- Empty trailers will also be banned on I-87 between Exit 8 to Exit 21A, on the Berkshire Spur and on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
- Empty trailers and tandem trailers will also be banned on I-84 from Pennsylvania state line to Connecticut state line, on Route 17 East of Binghamton to the New Jersey state line, and on the entire length of I-684.
You can click here for the latest travel information from the New York State Department of Transportation.
Rhode Island Travel Restrictions
Effective at 5 a.m. on Monday morning, all tractor trailers except those hauling emergency supplies, are banned from travelling on Rhode Island state roadways until further notice.
Click here for more travel info from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Massachusetts Travel Restrictions
From 10 a.m. through midnight on Monday, tractor trailers are banned from the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Please click here for the latest travel information from MassDOT.
Connecticut Travel Restrictions
Effective at 5 a.m. on Monday, Connecticut transportation officials have issued the following travel bans.
- All empty and tandem tractor trailers from traveling on Interstates 84, 91, and 95.
- All tractor trailers from traveling on Interstate 84.
For the latest travel information from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, please click here.
