Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Announces Reopening of Interstate 78

45 mph Speed Limit in Effect

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Interstate 78, the last of Pennsylvania's interstates closed by the powerful snow and wind storm that swept through Pennsylvania, has reopened, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.  A 45 mph speed limit restriction on I-78 will be in effect until further notice.

The interstate through the Lehigh Valley and Berks County was one of six interstates that the Governor ordered closed on Wednesday.

Interstate 76 (the Schuylkill Expressway), Interstate 476 (the Blue Route), Interstate 676 (the Vine Street Expressway), and Interstate 176 between Reading and Morgantown all were reopened as of 5 a.m. Thursday. Interstates 81, 83 and PA 581 in the central region reopened several hours earlier.

Interstate 78's reopening was delayed while PennDOT dealt with high winds and drifting snow well into this afternoon.

Governor Rendell ordered the closures Wednesday to allow PennDOT to deal with the combination of heavy snow and high winds. For their safety, motorists were urged not to drive to avoid risking their lives and the lives of others.

"The strong winds created whiteout conditions in many areas of the state, and that was the situation this morning in some areas of Interstate 78," Governor Rendell said. "All the elements for significant hazardous conditions were converging, and we needed to take aggressive steps to ensure the public safety and help PennDOT keep highways cleared in the face of very challenging conditions."

PennDOT also lifted both the 45 mph speed limit and vehicle restrictions from Pennsylvania interstates, expressways and state routes earlier today. The speed restriction remains in effect for I-78.

Motorists are still encouraged to use caution when traveling on roadways as the potential for blowing, drifting snow and white-out conditions still exists.  To check local interstate conditions, motorists can go online at www.511pa.com or call 511 while stopped in a safe location.

Media contact: Danielle Klinger, 717-580-2559

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor