Part of Interstate 80 closed in Pennsylvania; turnpike officials urge drivers to avoid eastern part of state

Part of Interstate 80 closed in Pennsylvania; turnpike officials urge drivers to avoid eastern part of state

Staff report

Harrisburg

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are strongly urging motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel in eastern Pennsylvania, including the area from Harrisburg north to the New York border, east to the New Jersey border and south to the Maryland border.

Currently Interstate 80 is closed in both directions from Exits 232 to 236, and Interstate 81 is closed in both directions between Exits 90 and 100. Also, hundreds of secondary roads are closed.

Many roads that are open are experiencing extremely high traffic, resulting in gridlock in many regions. In addition to flooding, mud slides and downed trees continue to pose safety risks along roadways in the rain-drenched regions.

PennDOT says for motorists’ safety as well as the safety of emergency responders, all drivers should avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.