Release: PennDOT Reducing Speed Limits and Restricting Vehicle Types

The following press release was issued by PennDOT on Sxaturday night...

King of Prussia – Due to the torrential rains, extreme winds and greatly reduced visibility from Hurricane Irene, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit and restricting certain types of vehicles from traveling on several highways in the Philadelphia region.

Speeds are being reduced to 45 mph on the following highways at midnight Sunday (Aug. 28):

• Interstate 76 in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties
• Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Bucks and Delaware counties
• Interstate 476 in Delaware and Montgomery counties
• Interstate 676 in Philadelphia
• Route 1 Extension in Philadelphia
• Route 1 in Bucks and Delaware counties
• Route 30 Bypass in Chester County
• Route 63 (Woodhaven Expressway) in Philadelphia
• Route 202 in Chester County
• Route 309 in Bucks and Montgomery counties
• Route 422 in Montgomery County

PennDOT is restricting these types of vehicles at midnight Sunday (Aug. 28):

• Class 9 vehicles (Overweight and over-dimensional trucks)
• Large Combination Vehicles (tandem trailers and doubles)
• Tractors hauling empty trailers
• Trailers pulled by passenger vehicles
• Motorcycles
• Recreational Vehicles, or RVs

These vehicles are restricted from the following roadways in southeastern Pennsylvania:

• Interstate 76 in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties
• Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Bucks and Delaware counties
• Interstate 476 in Delaware and Montgomery counties
• Interstate 676 in Philadelphia
• Route 1 Extension in Philadelphia
• Route 1 in Bucks and Delaware counties
• Route 30 Bypass in Chester County
• Route 63 (Woodhaven Expressway) in Philadelphia
• Route 202 in Chester County
• Route 309 in Bucks and Montgomery counties
• Route 422 in Montgomery County

Vehicles in these classifications should pull over to a safe area and wait for the restriction to be lifted. PennDOT is taking this step because not only is visibility greatly reduced due to blinding rain, but also these types of vehicles are prone to rollovers and difficult to control during high winds.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has expanded the areas affected by its 45 mph speed-limit restriction. The 45 mph speed limit is now in place on the Pa. Turnpike’s east-west mainline from the Morgantown Interchange (#298) east to the Delaware River Bridge Toll Plaza (#359) and on the Northeastern Extension from the Mid-County Interchange (#20) north to the Mahoning Valley Interchange (#74). In addition, the Pa. Turnpike has implemented the same bans on certain trailers that are in effect on PennDOT roadways on these two sections of the turnpike.

Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during this storm, 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. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website.

PennDOT reminds motorists to never drive through flood waters or drive around road barricades – Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.