Snow Plow Crews Implore People to NOT DRIVE OR WALK on Highways

(February 10, 2010 – 4 p.m.) –State Highway Administration (SHA) crews continue to plow state highways today in blizzard conditions.  Concerned about severely reduced visibility, SHA drivers have radioed in about safety of pedestrians walking in roadways since sidewalks aren’t cleared. 

“Under the best of conditions, large plow trucks require a wide berth and significant stopping distance,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen.  “With the fog, snow and wind, combined with snowy and icy pavements, our drivers may not be able to see and react to avoid pedestrians walking on roadways.  If your vehicle becomes disabled, pull as far off the road as possible and call for help – but please do not get out and walk in the roadway.”
 

Additional Updates:
 

SHA temporarily has southbound I-95 at MD 198 in Prince George’s County closed due to a multi-vehicle crash.  Southbound motorists are detoured at MD 32 west to US 29 to travel south to the Capital Beltway (I-495). 
 

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced the US 301 (Nice Bridge) bridge over the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia is now open.  Also, Pennsylvania’s I-81 and I-83 are also open.
 

For the latest weather and road conditions and to view live traffic cameras during the storm, citizens can log onto www.roads.maryland.gov and click on CHART.  Customers may also follow SHA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mdsha or call the Winter Storm hotline at 1-800-327-3125 for a regularly updated message with weather and roadway conditions.  If you need to report a non-emergency issue for a state highway, please log onto the website and click on the Service Request link from the “Contact Us” page.
 

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