[Photo by JENN BRITTON]
News for Immediate Release
Feb. 10, 2010
Pennsylvania Closing All of Interstates 81, 83, 78
Blizzard Conditions Impacting Majority of the State
Harrisburg – With blizzard conditions causing impassible road conditions, Governor Edward G. Rendell is closing interstates 83, 78, and part of Interstate 81 beginning at 12:30 p.m. and is expecting to close additional roads as conditions deteriorate.
Interstate 81 is closed from the Maryland line to Interstate 80.
With hazardous weather conditions in much of the state, the Governor said it is too dangerous for any motorist to be driving.
“For your safety, do not drive,” Governor Rendell said. “You will risk your life and, potentially, the lives of others if you get stuck on highways or any road.
“The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for several counties in Pennsylvania and visibility is at or near zero. Motorists must stay off interstates 81, 83, and 78 until my administration lifts the restriction.”
It is important that people only call 911 in an emergency. Do not call for any other reason.
RELATED: Interstate highways have been closed, and mass transit routes are shutting down as the snowfall increases and winds pick up throughout the region. Gov. Rendell and PEMA director Robert P. French orered the Schuylkill Expressway as well as I-676 and I-476 shut down at 2 p.m. because of poor visibility complicated by strong winds. “We’ve deemed any driving on these roads to be hazardous,” Rendell told reporters in a conference call. “And the roads will remain closed until the snow has abated.” SEPTA shut down most of its bus routes at 1 p.m. and said the remainder would stop running at 5 p.m. Regional rail trains, subways and some major bus routes will continue to operate, but there are a number of cancellations. Broad Street and Market-Frankford subways will run all night, with half-hour service, SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said. Worsening road conditions forced the decision to halt bus service on all routes. MORE