Rhode Island issues state-wide truck ban
Rhode Island is the latest state to issue sweeping commercial vehicle travel bans ahead of “Winter Storm Bobby” bearing down on the northeast.
On Friday afternoon, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee issued statewide travel restrictions for both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles due to incoming winter weather.
“I am implementing a travel ban for motor vehicles on the State’s roadways from 8 AM – 8 PM and a travel ban for all tractor-trailers and motorcycles, except those carrying emergency supplies, 6 AM – 11:59 PM Saturday 1/29. Stay home, stay safe and let @RIDOTNews do its job,” McKee said via Twitter.
⚠️ I am implementing a travel ban for motor vehicles on the State’s roadways from 8 AM – 8 PM and a travel ban for all tractor-trailers and motorcycles, except those carrying emergency supplies, 6 AM – 11:59 PM Saturday 1/29.
Stay home, stay safe and let @RIDOTNews do it’s job. pic.twitter.com/QYnEp98ZnV
— Governor Dan McKee (@GovDanMcKee) January 28, 2022
See below for other states that are enacting truck travel restrictions this weekend.
Pennsylvania Truck Travel Ban
Starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 28, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will implement Tier 4 Vehicle Restrictions (meaning NO commercial vehicles permitted) on the following roadways:
- I-80 from I-380 to the New Jersey state line
- I-78 from I-476 to the New Jersey state line
Also starting at 5 p.m., Tier 3 Vehicle restrictions (meaning NO commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices) will be put into place on the following roadway:
- I-295 from I-95 to the New Jersey state line
Starting at 8 p.m., Tier 3 Vehicle restrictions (meaning NO commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices) will be applied to the following roadways:
- I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) from the New Jersey state line to PA Turnpike
- I-95 from the Delaware state line to New Jersey state line
- I-276 full length
- I-476 from I-95 to I-78
- I-676 full length
New York Truck Travel Restrictions
New York State Department of Transportation officials say that they plan to issue an advisory speed of 45 miles per hour on the Long Island Expressway and parkways this evening, and restrict trucks to the right lane only on the Long Island Expressway.
Connecticut and New Jersey Truck Travel Ban Info
In a Friday news conference, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said that starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, a tractor travel ban would be in place due to a major nor’easter dubbed “Winter Storm Bobby” expected to hit the New England coast late Friday and into Saturday.
“As of 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, no tractor trailers on the roads, period. Get them off the roads. That’s going to be true in Connecticut, that’s true of our neighboring states, we’re coordinating with them as well,” Lamont said.
New Jersey officials also announced a truck travel ban going into effect on Friday evening. See below for details.
The commercial vehicle travel restriction will begin at 5 p.m., today, Friday, January 28 and will be in place until further notice for the following highways in both directions:
- I-76, entire length from the Walt Whitman Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to Route 42
- I-78, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
- I-80, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
- I-195, entire length from I-295 to NJ Route 138
- I-280, entire length from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
- I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border
- I-295, entire length from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvaniaborder)
- I-676, from the Ben Franklin Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to I-76
- NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287
The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:
- All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order)
- Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
- Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
- Recreational vehicles
- Motorcycles
This restriction does not apply to:
- The New Jersey Turnpike
- The Garden State Parkway
- The Atlantic City Expressway
New Jersey officials are also asking truckers who are already within the state when travel restrictions go in effect to pull off into truck stops and refrain from parking on the shoulder of the roadway.
Other states are expected to announce truck travel restrictions on Friday.