**Winter Weather Congestion Alert**

State of Emergency and Commercial Vehicle Travel Restrictions on Interstate Highways start at midnight tonight

Avoid Unnecessary Travel during the Storm

(Trenton) -New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today issued a Winter Weather Alert and are reminding motorists that Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a State of Emergency and the NJ State Police issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction, both starting at 12 midnight tonight, due to the anticipated severity of Winter Storm.

NJDOT is prepared and coordinating our response with our regional transportation partners to ensure the safety of all travelers. The Department has 2,500 plows and spreaders that are ready to be activated statewide wherever they are needed.

Ice and winds could bring trees and branches down on roadways. NJDOT crews have tree-clearing equipment available to remove debris from state highways to ensure plows, emergency personnel and utility companies can get through. In addition, the Department and our transportation partners are prepared for possible flooding in South Jersey from heavy rain.

The Department is reminding motorists:

• AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL during the storm
• Consider Telecommuting tomorrow, if possible
• If you must drive and road conditions deteriorate, GET OFF THE ROADsomewhere safe and wait it out
• Always STAY CLEAR of plows and spreading trucks.  If they are behind you, let them pass
• DO NOT PASS between trucks that are in a plow formation
• Be patient and use caution

Commercial Vehicle Travel Restriction
The restriction applies to the entire length of all Interstate Highways in New Jersey including:

• I-76
• I-78
• I-80
• I-195  
• I-280
• I-287
• I-295
• I-676

The restriction DOES NOT apply to:

• New Jersey Turnpike
• Garden State Parkway
• Atlantic City Expressway

The commercial vehicle travel restriction in New Jersey applies to the following vehicles:

• All tractor-trailers
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

In order for NJDOT and our regional and local transportation partners to safely and efficiently clear roadways of snow and ice, motorists need to Clear the Roads so We Can Clear the Roads.
NJDOT will deploy our Incline Package assets on I-280 and I-78 at Jugtown mountain (between Exits 7 and 11), which includes pre-positioning towing assets, NJDOT Safety Service Patrol (SSP) trucks, and coordination with New Jersey State Police.
NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs throughout the storm to provide updates. Once conditions improve, NJDOT will lift the Winter Weather Congestion Alert.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the NJDOT Facebook page or on Twitter @NJDOT_info.