Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT has reduced the temporary Tier 4 restriction along a portion of I-376 (Parkway West) in Allegheny County.

Due to the winter storm impacting the region, PennDOT has temporarily restricted certain vehicles from using the interstates and highways to help ensure that the roadways remained open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm. The previous Tier 4 restriction implemented on I-376 (Parkway West) from the I-279 (Parkway North) exit (Exit 70C) to the Airport exit (Exit 53) has been reduced to a Tier 2 restriction.

Currently, the following roadways remain at a Tier 2 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:

Allegheny County

Beaver County

Lawrence County

Under Tier 2 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 loaded tandem trailers unless there are chains or another approved Alternate Traction Device on board; 

• 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; and 

• motorcycles. 

Speed limits remain restricted to 45 mph on these roadways in addition to Routes 22 and 28 in Allegheny County for all vehicles, and commercial vehicles not affected by other roadway restrictions must move to the right lane. 

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 the website.

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.

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

Follow regional PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

MEDIA CONTACTS: Yasmeen Manyisha, 412-429-5044

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