Rhoades Requests Meeting to Examine PennDOT Response to Storms

HARRISBURG – After another major Interstate in Schuylkill County was closed today due to winter weather, Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) requested a meeting with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler to review winter road maintenance practices in the county.

Interstate 81 was closed Monday morning due to numerous accidents between Exit 100 (Pine Grove) and Exit 134 (Delano), and both the northbound and southbound ramps on Exit 119 were closed later in the day due to snow-covered roads.

Additionally, Rts 61, 901, 407, 402, 924 and Morea Road were also closed for part of the day.

"I know we can't control Mother Nature, but we certainly should be able to manage our winter road maintenance without being forced to repeatedly close major roadways in the county," Rhoades said. "I contacted Secretary Biehler today to arrange a meeting so we can find out how we can avoid these types of complications in the future."

The road closures and hazardous traffic conditions come just two months after PennDOT botched the response to a Valentine's Day storm that closed much of Interstate 78 and stranded hundreds of motorists for nearly a full day.