​Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily restricting certain vehicles on Interstate 80. 

Vehicle restrictions reflect Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan, and are in effect on Interstate 80 from the Ohio border to New Jersey.

Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:  empty tandem trailers, empty trailer trucks, motorcycles, permitted loads, rv/campers, vehicles with tow behind trailers, tractors without trailers, school buses, commercial buses and motor coaches

Speed limits will be restricted to 45 mph on these roadways for all vehicles while the vehicle restrictions are in place, and commercial vehicles not affected by the restrictions must move to the right lane. Additional speed restrictions on other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

The purpose of the restriction is to help ensure the interstates remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm. When conditions improve, PennDOT will remove the travel restrictions. 

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 www.511PA.com by clicking on “Personal Alerts” in the left-hand menu.

Although PennDOT crews are treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.penndot.gov/winter. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Tina Gibbs, chgibbs@pa.gov.