Due to the severity of the winter storm, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the east central PennDOT District 5 region that includes Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

• Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties;

• Interstate 80 in Carbon and Monroe counties;

• Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County;

• Interstate 176 in Berks County;

• Interstate 380 in Monroe County;

• Route 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties;

• Route 209 in Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties

• Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.

On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by other restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.

Tractors without trailers; tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers; Passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers; recreational vehicles/motorhomes; School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches; and motorcycles, are prohibited on:

Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties;

• Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County;

• Interstate 380 in Monroe County;

• Route 22 in Lehigh and Northampton counties;

• Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties.