PRESS RELEASE 1 – (March 5, 2015) – Due to the winter storm impacting the region, PennDOT has temporarily reduced the speed limit on the major roadways in east central Pennsylvania.

PennDOT encourages motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 MPH on the following highways:

• Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties;
• Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County;
• US 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties;
• PA 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties;
• PA 309 in Lehigh County.

Although PennDOT has crews treating roadways around the clock, 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.

Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by calling 511 or visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 500 traffic cameras. The 511 site also provides easy-to-use, color-coded winter road conditions for all interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website.

PennDOT also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/winter.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAAllentown.

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PRESS RELEASE 2 – (March 4, 2015) – With another round of snow headed for Pennsylvania Wednesday into Thursday, Governor Tom Wolf, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency remind residents to stay aware of weather forecasts and take a commonsense approach to any travel.

“Severe winter weather could impact your travel and personal safety,” Governor Wolf said. “Be overly cautious when traveling, pay special attention to your elderly neighbors, and bring your pets in from the cold.”

Forecasts call for a range of snow accumulation. Anywhere from 6 to 10 inches is expected in Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Chester, Philadelphia, and southern Delaware counties. Areas north of Interstate 80 are expected to receive around an inch of snow.

“Whenever possible, it is best to delay travel while a storm is in progress,” said Acting PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “Keeping traffic to a minimum during the storm allows PennDOT crews to do their jobs more efficiently.”

“Anyone who needs to travel during the storm should be sure to have some basic supplies like food, water, and warm clothing in their cars,” said PEMA Director Richard D. Flinn, Jr. “Be sure to let someone else know your destination and how long you believe the trip will take you.”

PennDOT snow managers have been at work since Tuesday morning, overseeing deployment of the agency’s 2,250 trucks, plows and salt spreaders and its workforce of 5,400 equipment operators. As needed, PennDOT also can call on hundreds of equipment rentals and relies on municipalities to assist under long-term agreements.

PennDOT has adequate salt supplies to deal with the storm. While precipitation is falling, roads will not be free of ice and snow. The average plow truck route is 40 miles, and it takes hours for that truck to circle back to the same point on its route. Interstates and expressways are PennDOT’s priority, and trucks may be redirected from lower-traffic roads to help keep higher-traffic routes passable. That means secondary roads will have longer times in between plow passes.

If motorists cannot postpone travel during winter storms, they can “Know Before You Go” by checking winter road conditions, traffic alerts and more, as well as download apps or sign up for personal alerts, at www.511PA.com.

The commonwealth’s ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved. More detailed information, such as home and car emergency kit checklists, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org.