Ohio Turnpike issues weather event travel restriction for high-profile vehicles

BEREA — In anticipation of a major weather event, the Ohio Turnpike has issued a travel restriction for all high-profile vehicles from 6 a.m., Friday, Dec. 23, to 8 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 25. (High-profile vehicles are defined as height exceeding 7 feet, 6 inches). The following types of vehicles will be banned from traveling on the Ohio Turnpike until the travel restriction is canceled or expires: • All high-profile tow-behind trailers, campers, boats, and enclosed trailers. (Fifth wheel trailers are excluded.);• Commercial trucks towing an empty single 53-foot trailer;• All mobile homes, office trailers and livestock trailers;• All long combination vehicles (LCV) that include long double-trailer combinations exceeding 90-feet in length. (Enclosed trailers only, including Conestoga type trailers); and• All LCV triple-trailer combinations. The following types of vehicles will be permitted to travel on the Ohio Turnpike: • Self-propelled motor homes;• Low-profile trailers;• Fold-down camper trailers;• Pickup trucks with slide-on camper units;• Vehicles towing fifth-wheel type trailers or any other type of trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks;• Commercial trucks towing single flatbed or box-type trailers;• Commercial trucks towing a single 53-foot trailer with cargo/loaded;• Commercial trucks towing a car hauler trailer;• Commercial trucks towing flatbed double-trailer combinations more than 90 feet;• Commercial trucks towing any double-trailer combinations less than 90 feet;• 2-axle buses less than 40 feet; and• Buses with 3 or more axles less than 45 feet. The travel ban for high-profile vehicles — which covers the entire 241-mile Ohio Turnpike — will be continually evaluated throughout the duration of the storm. Ohio Turnpike Offers Winter Driving Safety Tips for Motorists The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm and wind chill warning for numerous Ohio counties. First consider if travel is necessary. If you are travelling on the Ohio Turnpike during the storm, here are safety tips to consider: • Don't Crowd the Plow: When the snowplow trucks are in action, motorists should take every precaution to avoid passing them and allow extra time and space for the snowplow truck operators to clear the road. Crews typically work together clearing multiple lanes simultaneously, so make sure to give them room to work. Keep in mind the safest place to be on the road is behind a snowplow. • Be Aware of Poor Visibility: Heavy accumulation with blowing and drifting snow can be unpredictable causing reduced visibility and making travel conditions more difficult, especially in certain areas along the Ohio Turnpike. Historically, one of the worst areas on the Ohio Turnpike for blowing and drifting snow leading to reduced visibility is between the service plazas in Clyde, Ohio, at milepost 100 and toll plaza/exit 118 (U.S. 250 – Sandusky/Norwalk), due to high winds from the Sandusky Bay and flat, wide-open fields. • Be Prepared: During winter storms of this magnitude, motorists should consider traveling only when necessary. If you must travel, keep warm clothing, blankets, a flashlight, food and water, and a cell phone charger in your vehicle in case of an emergency. If your vehicle breaks down or you are involved in a crash, turn on your hazard lights, move your vehicle as far off the roadway as possible, remain in the vehicle, and call #677. ODOT prepares for big storm CLEVELAND — Rain, high winds, cold temperatures, and snow have made their way into Ohio and will be sticking around through Christmas Day. Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are on 12-hour shifts around the clock for as long as the winter weather continues. Travel Saturday and potentially Sunday — depending on how lake effect snow fall persists — will be impacted. If you plan to travel this holiday weekend, allow plenty of extra travel time, check the forecast, and plan ahead by checking out OHGO.com to view hundreds of live traffic cameras, traffic speeds, and be informed of any crashes or incidents. Should lake effect snowfall persist in the primary snowbelt, it will be difficult for our crews to keep up. Don't expect perfect road conditions. Our drivers will be plowing and treating roads and doing their best for those that must travel. In northeast Ohio, there are more than 260,000 tons of salt on hand and more than 300 snowplow drivers ready to keep the roads as safe and passable as possible. Even as the forecast is changed and updated over the next several hours, one thing remains the same, ODOT snowplows will be working around the clock. As a reminder, ODOT is responsible for treating state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates except the Ohio Turnpike.