PennDOT has announced restrictions for Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County that will take effect at 3:30pm, on Wednesday, December 16th, 2020 due to the weather conditions.
Earlier on Wednesday, PennDOT announced Level 1 Restrictions for all of Interstate 81 including the section that runs through Schuylkill County.
The restrictions included
- Tractors without trailers;
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers;
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers;
- Enclosed cargo delivery trucks that meet the definition of a CMV;
- Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV's, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers;
- Recreational vehicles/motorhomes;
- School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches; and
- motorcycles.
At approximately 3:30pm on Wednesday, PennDOT will upgrade those restrictions to Level 3 which means:
- no commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.
- Speed limits will be restricted to 45 mph on these roadways for all vehicles while the vehicle restrictions are in place, and commercial vehicles not affected by the bans must move to the right lane.
The Level 3 restrictions that will go into place are also in effect for:
- All eastbound and westbound miles of Interstate 78;
- Interstate 80 from Interstate 99 to the New Jersey border;
PennDOT asks everyone to use their 511PA phone application for up to the minute road conditions and reports.