PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — PennDOT says hundreds of trucks will be spreading salt before the winter storm begins Friday evening, and plows will hit the roads if snow accumulates above an inch.
“There are going to be more than 400 trucks out there spreading when that storm first starts, and if those accumulations were to rise above an inch or so, we’ll begin clearing operations,” said Brad Rudolph of PennDOT.
The agency has more than 90,000 tons of salt ready for storms like this one. Rudolph warned drivers to be cautious.
“It’s going to be slick out there. It’s not going to be just straight snow, it looks like temperatures are straddling the freezing, so that causes dangerous conditions on the roadways,” he said.
Crews in Chester County prepared for storm
Contractors are also preparing.
Tim Simmon of Rocky Creek Property Maintenance said his plow truck is loaded with shovels and salt.
“Every storm is different. So just gotta play it by ear,” Simmon said.
He urged drivers to give plows space. “A lot of people should not be driving, but they gotta get around too so, just stay out of the plow trucks’ way,” he said.
At Albrights, just outside Allentown, John B picked up a shovel and 100 pounds of rock salt.
Owner Tonya Ringer says it was non-stop Friday, and that was most people have been coming in for.
“More than anything, we’re selling a lot of the ice melters,” she said.
Some residents are bracing for travel despite the weather.
Charles Harper of Media said he has to pick up his son at the airport.
“I gotta pick up my son at the airport at 6 o’clock, so not looking forward to it,” Harper said. He added that he plans to salt his property after finishing post-holiday shopping.
“I’m going to go home and put some salt down, though,” he said.
SPEED RESTRICTIONS
Vehicle restrictions are now in effect under Tier 3 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph on the following roadways:
- Interstates 76, 95, 295, 476, 676
- U.S. Routes 1, 30, 202, 422
- State Routes 63, 100 Spur and 309
- Interstate 81 south of I-83 and all Pennsylvania interstates west of I-81, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s I-76 and I-70 and all western turnpike extensions
- I-81 north of I-83, Route 33, U.S. 22 between I-78 and Route 33, and all Pennsylvania interstates east of I-81, including the eastern turnpike extensions
Under Tier 3 restrictions, commercial vehicles are prohibited except for loaded single trailers with chains or approved alternate traction devices. School buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs and motorhomes, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are also not permitted on affected roadways.
Restrictions will be lifted as quickly as conditions allow and may change based on roadway conditions and reports from first responders, law enforcement and PennDOT personnel.
The storm coincides with heavy holiday travel. AAA projects nearly 1.4 million Philadelphia-area residents will travel during the year-end holiday period from Dec. 20 through Jan. 1, a 2.3% increase over last year. More than 1.2 million travelers, about 90%, are expected to drive.
AAA says Friday is expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the season.
For the latest conditions on area highways, check 6abc.com/Traffic.
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