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February 11, 2025 Travel Advisory

PA Turnpike Encourages Drivers to Prepare for Upcoming Winter Storms


PA Turnpike Encourages Drivers to Prepare for Upcoming Winter Storms

Speed and tier restrictions will be implemented as needed.

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — With a continued wave of winter storms forecasted to move through Pennsylvania throughout the week, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is reminding travelers to stay alert for changing weather conditions. 

If speed and vehicle tier restrictions are needed, they will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website. 

Safety is a top priority and core value for the PA Turnpike, which is why the Turnpike prepares all year for winter weather. With more than 565 miles of roads, 1,360+ bridges system-wide, 93 interchange configurations and 17 service plazas, the PA Turnpike is responsible for maintaining more than 2,900 snow-lane miles. 

To do this, the PA Turnpike uses more than 425 trucks, plows and salt spreaders, operated by more than 450 licensed operators. Beyond equipment operators, the PA Turnpike also provides 24/7 support to travelers through a dedicated roadside assistance team. 

Freezing rain and a wintry mix create dangerous driving conditions, regardless of road treatment. While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PA Turnpike offers this advice if motorists must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow:  

  • Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
  • Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
  • Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
  • Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
  • Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
  • Use your defroster and wipers
  • Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
  • During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
  • Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
  • Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
  • Always buckle up and never drive impaired. 
  • Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit. 

When winter weather occurs, drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should: 

  • Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.
  • Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.
  • When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width.
  • Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a "plow train." The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.
  • Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can't see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack.
  • Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle's wipers are on due to inclement weather. 

More information on winter travel can be found on the PA Turnpike’s Ramp Up for Seasonal Travel page. 

To report an incident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 via mobile phone. To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions, use one of these resources: 

ON THE TURNPIKE

511PA Smartphone App: real-time, hands-free PA traffic advisories

Digital Message Signs: more than 200 boards along the PA Turnpike

ON THE WEB

511/511pa.com: live, interactive map

X/Twitter: @PATurnpikeAlert

BY PHONE

511: dial from any PA roadway for local travel information

Pennsylvania Turnpike Customer Assistance Center: 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.

 

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Media Contacts:

Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com 

Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com