With high winds expected to hit large parts of New York State starting Sunday, Governor Cuomo has directed the Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority to ban empty tractor trailers and empty tandems from portions of the New York State Thruway and some interstate highways in the Western New York, Central New York and Finger Lakes Regions due to high wind warnings and high wind watches.
The ban will take effect beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, February 24.
Empty tractor trailers and tandems will be banned from the following interstate highways:
DOT Highways:
- I-390 from Dansville to Rt 104
- I-490 from I-90 exit 45 to I-90 exit 47
- I-590 (full extent)
- Rt 104 at the Bay Bridge
- I-190 from Grand Island to Lewiston / Queenston
- I-290 from I-190 to I-90
- NY 5 from I-190 to NY 179 (with a full truck ban on the elevated section of the Skyway)
- US 219 from I-90 to Peters Rd
- NY 400 from NY 16 to I-90
- I-990 from I-290 to NY 263
Thruway Highways:
- I-90 between exit 31 (Utica) and exit 61 (Ripley to PA line)
- Niagara Thruway (I-190)
"New York is preparing to endure yet another extreme weather event that could bring strong winds resulting in significant power outages," Governor Cuomo said. "I want to make it abundantly clear that utilities are expected to be prepared with response plans to deal with emergencies and quickly restore power to residents following any storm-related outages. We expect that utilities will be working aggressively and around-the-clock to fully restore power to all New Yorkers affected by this storm. The state is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to assist localities quickly as needed."
A March 2017 windstorm left more than 250,000 utility customers without power -- many of them for days -- and Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the Public Service Commission to investigate.
