As winter weather conditions improve in our area, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is lifting some speed restrictions in the region.
Speed limits have returned to normal and the restriction for commercial vehicles to move to the right lane has been lifted on the following roads:
- The entirety of I-99;
- I-80 from the Bellefonte/161 interchange to mile-marker 212;
A speed reduction to 45 mph and commercial vehicles using the right lane only remains for Route 322/22 from I-99 in Centre County to the Harrisburg area.
The purpose of the restriction is to help ensure that roads 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 continue to treat 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. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateColl.