The Keystone state really dropped the ball

[Ray H]

Anyone whos tried driving around eastern PA knows what Im talking about. What a disaster. I drove up to Wilkes Barre wednesday and 81 was almost a sheet of ice from Wilkes Barre to Harrisburg. I drove up to Allentown Yesterday. 81 and 78 were still completely shut down because of the ice and the PA Turnpike was shut down because of an accident. All the secondary roads were almost shutdown because of the traffic routed off the interstates. Took me nearly ten hours to drive from Harrisburg to Allentown and back.
Does anyone know exactly what the issue with 81 and 78 was?

 

[XpedientJ]

Your...'tax dollars at work'....somewhere else, perhaps.....:dunno:

Of course, the States don't really have enough re$ources to fund such things as show and ice management, right....??....:bs:

Just go to www.cafr1.com , and check in the financial-resources-of-other states-section, and lookee see....:gonnablow

 

[Ray H]

I dont live in PA so its not my tax dollars directly but we all pay in some way I guess. I drive a truck and my company does alot of business in PA. We have struggled all week trying to get loads delivered and picked up. The total cost to businesses, especially in the effected area is probably astronomical. For me, it just turned a couple of, what should've been, relatively easy days into a PITA.

 

[Mutant_Xj]

Dude the york and Lancaster area sucked! I live in Red Lion (south of York) and work in lancaster. The back roads were safer to drive on then the main roads. 24 was about 5" of solid ice and thats a heavily traveled road. I would have thought they would have at least kept the main roads clear and say the hell with the minor roads, but they must have thought skrew it all together.

 

[ktm racer 419]

big accident on 81

In my local providence (RI) newspaper.

They didn't get around to blocking the onramps so traffic quickly piled up and people were stranded for hours.

 

[whatevah]

Delaware DOT does a pretty good job with their trucks, they were a little slow this time, but the last snowfall they dumped a LOT of salt. so much that I was able to fishtail on the salt when I punched the gas in a turn. fun :-D

all of the major roads in DE were fine, and I believe all secondary roads as well. only the roads in developments were icy. fun driving up a steep hill in 2WD with my new tires. :-D

 

[GhostDakota]

I saw the traffic on the PA Turnpike Westbound when I was heading East to my house in Jersey. It was backed up from WEST of Reading all the way to Fort Washington.... 289-326... so 37 miles of backup from 81/80/78 being closed... insane. You should've heard the truckers on Channel 19... they were PISSED.

 

[XXX]

Rte. 81 was shut down from near Harrisburg to Wilkes-Barre for days! Never seen this in my 46 year career.

-Ron

 

[Plays For Jeeps]

I live in PA and live literally 2 minutes from 78 and the Bandit truck stop. The last open exit before they closed 78

Some people were stuck in their cars for 2 days!

 

[Ray H]

I live in PA and live literally 2 minutes from 78 and the Bandit truck stop. The last open exit before they closed 78

Some people were stuck in their cars for 2 days!

PA shouldve asked for volunteers from 4X4 clubs to help clear people and cars off the highways. Im sure they wouldve gotten a good response.
Some of you PA guys should bring that up to someone. I know they dont want people out driving around willy nilly but just a little coodination would go along way.

 

[Plays For Jeeps]

^There are several 4x4 Search and rescue teams locally. As far as I know none were asked to help.

www.fourwheelrescue.com

The only organization that seemed to care was Kebler cookies. One of their trucks was stuck on 78 and the driver got permission to crack open his cases of cookies and pass them out. The stranded people ate cookies for breakfast, lunch, and diner.

 

[Ray H]

^There are several 4x4 Search and rescue teams locally. As far as I know none were asked to help.

www.fourwheelrescue.com

The only organization that seemed to care was Kebler cookies. One of their trucks was stuck on 78 and the driver got permission to crack open his cases of cookies and pass them out. The stranded people ate cookies for breakfast, lunch, and diner.

Too bad there wasnt a Budweiser truck right behind the cookie truck.

Youre link wont open. I dont think we have anything like that around here but I wouldnt mind organizing something, Im just not sure theres a real need for it here.

 

[Plays For Jeeps]

Thats odd. Something must of happened to the site. Heres what it used to look like.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:e2lXtyyJRJUJ:www.fourwheelrescue.com/+www.fourwheelrescue.com&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

 

[Plays For Jeeps]

I have picks of Penndot dropping the ball but cant upload them.

 

[GhostDakota]

It wasn't as bad during this last storm at least.. No real major jams or anything.. just normal Friday traffic.. and it really wasn't too bad. Philly Airport on the other hand... that was hell.. especially for US Airways I think:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=traffic&id=5133254