HARRISBURG -- Due to dangerous wind speeds associated with Hurricane Sandy, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission expanded temporary speed limit reductions and some vehicle restrictions to eastern and southcentral Pennsylvania roadways.
PennDOT urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:
Interstate 81 from the New York state to Maryland state border;
Interstates 78, 83, 84, 380, 176 and 76;
Interstate 283 and Route 283;
Interstate 80 east of Interstate 81;
Pennsylvania Turnpike from New Jersey to Carlisle and the Northeast Extension;
Route 581; and
U.S. Routes 15, 30, 22/322 and 33.
Also, in conjunction with similar restrictions imposed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, these types of vehicles will be prohibited from traveling on the speed-restricted roadways: Class 9 vehicles (Overweight and over-dimensional trucks); empty straight trucks; Large Combination Vehicles (tandem trailers and doubles); tractors hauling empty trailers; trailers pulled by passenger vehicles; motorcycles; and recreational vehicles.
Travelers who must be on the roadways should be sure that they have an emergency kit packed in 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, PennDOT said.
