New York lifts winter storm travel bans

UPDATE: Wednesday, March 15, 4 p.m. Central: All travel bans across the state of New York have been lifted Wednesday afternoon, including the tractor-trailer ban for interstates 81, 84, 86, 88 and the New York State Thruway, and the full travel ban in Broome County.

A speed restriction of 45 mph is still in place in western Pennsylvania on I-80 near the New Jersey line, and on I-380. New Jersey also has a speed restriction in place on I-80 to the Pennsylvania state line.

UPDATE: Tuesday, March 14, 11:15 a.m. Central: In addition to Pennsylvania’s declaration Monday afternoon, Connecticut and Virginia have also issued emergency declarations because of Winter Storm Stella hitting the Northeast early this week.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy’s emergency declaration prohibits all traffic in the state, which began at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Malloy says the ban does not extend to emergency response and recovery vehicles, including trucks carrying essential supplies.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an emergency declaration Monday afternoon to help state agencies prepare for the storm. The declaration also orders the state to grant haulers temporary overweight, over width, registration or license exemptions if they are hauling “essential emergency relief supplies, livestock or poultry, feed or other critical supplies for livestock or poultry, heating oil, motor fuels or propane, or providing restoration of utilities” in the state.

Additionally, in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a tractor-trailer ban for interstates 81, 84, 86, 88 and the New York State Thruway. A full travel ban is also in effect in Broome County, where I-81, I-86, I-88 and Route 17 intersect and where the City of Binghamton is located.

New Jersey has also placed speed and truck restrictions on I-78, I-80 and I-95 in certain areas.

Original story follows:

Winter Storm Stella is predicted to dump as much as 20 inches of snow in some locations in and around New England Monday and Tuesday. Blizzard warnings have already been issued for parts of the region. (Weather Channel photo)Winter Storm Stella is predicted to dump as much as 20 inches of snow in some locations in and around New England Monday and Tuesday. Blizzard warnings have already been issued for parts of the region. (Weather Channel photo)

Starting Monday evening, a winter storm is expected to drop as much as 20 inches of snow in some Northeast locations, including the major cities along the East Coast.

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Winter Storm Stella is forecast to deliver from 1 to 4 inches of snow per hour along the I-95 corridor from Boston to Philadelphia and possibly Washington, D.C. Boston and New York City can expect for as much as 18 inches of snow.

Forecasters say that snow will be driven by winds up to 60 mph in some regions.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Monday signed a proclamation of disaster emergency in anticipation of the major winter snowstorm expected to hit the Northeast, and announced PennDOT and the Turnpike will restrict speeds on interstates and some large commercial vehicle travel.

In addition, the proclamation authorizes the Department of Transportation to waive hours of service regulations related to drivers of commercial vehicles in order to ensure the timely movement of commodities, particularly food and home-heating fuel. No formal hours waiver has been issued yet, though affected states likely will in the coming days.

Beginning Monday at 10 p.m., the following restrictions will be in place on Interstates 70, 76, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 99, 283, 176, 180, 476, 380; all expressways not on the interstate system; and the Pennsylvania Turnpike from the Bedford Interchange east to New Jersey and on the entire Northeastern extension:

  • 45 mph speed limit
  • Ban on tandem truck trailers, empty trailers, towed trailers, buses, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles

PennDOT is also cancelling all superload permits for movement on Tuesday.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is asking motorists to avoid unnecessary travel. A statement from the governor warns, “Motorists, especially tractor trailers, should be prepared for road closures across the state.”

Keep up to date on highway information for each state at the following links:

•New York
•New Jersey
•Massachusetts
•Pennsylvania
•Connecticut
•Rhode Island
•Maine

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