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Due to forecasted severe winter weather, PennDOT will be temporarily restricting certain vehicles tonight on Interstate 90 in Erie County.

Vehicle restrictions will reflect Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan (PDF), and will go into effect beginning at 6:00 PM along I-90 from the Ohio state line to the New York state line.

Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:

— 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 unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box 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.

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 restrictions move to the right lane. Additional speed restrictions on other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

The purpose of the restriction is to help ensure the interstates remain open during the most challenging conditions of the winter storm. When conditions improve, PennDOT will remove the travel restrictions.

Restrictions will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website at www.511PA.com and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for alerts on the website.

Although PennDOT crews are treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.