HERE WE GO AGAIN
Region braces for another nor’easter as the first day of spring arrives
NORRISTOWN » It’s way past Groundhog Day, but the message PennDOT’s Bob Kennedy gave at a Tuesday afternoon press conference was a carbon copy of the one he relayed before the last big storm hit the region March 7: “If there’s any way you can delay your travel plans. Do it.”
Once again, Kennedy was speaking to a gaggle of reporters at the department’s Norristown facility about preparations for the fourth significant snow event to bear down on the region this month.
Like the others, this late winter storm, dubbed Toby, has been classified as a nor’easter and threatens to bring damaging winds along with heavy wet, snow that forecasters are predicting could accumulate 7 to 10 inches.
“We have over 70,000 tons of material to handle this event and any more that Mother Nature throws at us,” Kennedy said.
“This event is going to have heavy snow, wet snow, wind,” he continued. “We have tree contractors standing by in case any trees go down like they did with previous nor’easters and we also suggest that you tune into 511PA, it’ll show cameras of real-time traffic and there’s also a little app on there for snow plows. If you live on a state road, you can click on there and see where the snow plows are on your state road.
In anticipation of the storm, all public and parochial schools in Philadelphia announced they will be closed on Wednesday.
Kennedy said PennDOT operations vary from county to county but the main factor in how the department tackles a specific storm relies on a final consensus on the forecast.
“This one was all over the place,” Kennedy noted, “I think everybody has it right where it should be right now and we have everything prepared.”
“We have everything out plus six pieces of equipment from the northern tier where they’re not going to get as much.”
Kennedy admonished drivers that have to travel during the storm to steer clear of plow trucks, especially, so-called plow trains — fleets of trucks thatwork together to clear and salt highways.
He also warned that just because this storm is starting out as mainly a sleet event, drivers should be aware that it could get very bad very fast.
“The last nor’easter started out as rain and at about 10 o’clock everybody got complacent and came out and then it turned to snow,” he said.
In anticipation of significant snowfall across Pennsylvania beginning Tuesday night PennDOT imposed a series of restrictions on most interstates beginning at 8 p.m. including a ban on empty straight CDL-weighted trucks, tractors hauling double trailers, tractors hauling empty trailers, trailers pulled by passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, or RVs.
Also, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has temporarily lowered the speed limit on some parts of its system as maintenance crews continue to treat the roadways. Speeds are now reduced to 45 mph on the east-west mainline (I70/76) from the New Stanton Interchange (#75) to the Breezewood Interchange (#161).
PennDOT and Pennsylvania Turnpike officials are reminding motorists to make sure their gas tanks are full and they pack an emergency kit, which should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes.
While driving in severe weather, motorists should follow these protocols:
• Always travel at a safe speed for conditions, no matter what the posted limit is.
• Allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks; and
• Never pass a truck that is actively plowing or spreading salt.