No tandems on snowy New York state thruways
ALBANY, New York — Bad weather means tandems aren’t allowed to run on some New York state highways.
The New York State Thruway Authority has issued the following notice: “Due to winter weather conditions, long tandem trailers have been banned on the Niagara Thruway (I-190) and on the New York State Thruway (I-90) between exit 25A and the Pennsylvania State Line.”
The Ontario Trucking Association, sent out a notice to its members after getting in touch with the Thruway Authority, letting them know that “The NYS Thruway is also restricting company services from the highway. Instead, authorities say they will have a recovery unit patrolling the highway if a vehicle operator requires assistance. Operators can call 1-800-842-2233.”
The restriction is likely going to be in place until at least later tonight. The region is experiencing heavy snowfall and a large portion of western New York is under a blizzard warning.
The Authority broadcasts information on Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) and activates Dynamic Message Signs (DMS). Updates are also available on the NYS Thruway website.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.
Before what turned out to be the legendary ‘Blizzard of ’77’, I was headed west from Buffalo, destination Cleveland, driving a cabover with a van with no cb radio. It was about ten at night and snowing furiously. I couldn’t manage more than about 35-40mph and the trailer was heaving around in the wind but otherwise everything seemed about normal. I hadn’t noticed that the traffic was thinning out until I was alone on the road and still trundling along. I could barely see the occasional lights on Hwys 5 and 20. Oh well…put in the diff lock and stick with it. When I eventually pulled into the toll booth at Ripley, the collector informed me that the Thruway was closed and ‘how did I manage to avoid the mandatory exit’. Never saw a thing and no one stopped me.