Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced the implementation of a 15-ton weight restriction on a portion of Route 74 in Juniata and Perry Counties. The restriction, as well as a newly designated truck route around this portion of Route 74, will go into effect on February 24.
Message boards will be in place notifying motorists of the new truck restriction starting February 10 continuing through February 24. This restriction has been put into place to improve safety for the traveling public, as well as residents living along Route 74, by diverting heavy truck traffic from the steep grades and sharp turns of Route 74, heading North, between Ickesburg and the junction of Route 75.
“In the past three years there have been multiple heavy truck crashes involving injuries on this part of Route 74, and two of those involved a truck hitting a house at the bottom of the mountain,” explained District 2 Executive Thomas Prestash. “We are confident this restriction is necessary in order to prevent catastrophic failures from occurring due to speeds and brake failures involving heavy trucks, and that it will greatly improve safety for the residents in this area, as well as those traveling along this route.”
New signage has been installed indicating the 15-ton weight restriction on Route 74 Northbound. Signage has also been placed routing trucks off Route 74 North and onto Route 17 near Ickesburg in Saville Township, Perry County. From there, trucks will travel Route 22, to Route 75 in Turbett Township, Juniata County. Southbound traffic will not be impacted.
As a result of this restriction, any commercial vehicle weighing 15-tons or more will be required to secure a permit from PennDOT. Those permits for local hauling can be obtained by contacting the District 2 Permits Office at 814-765-0512.
This portion of Route 74 has an eight percent grade running down-hill in the northbound direction for two miles, with numerous switchbacks and sharp curves. In conjunction with the truck restriction, PennDOT implemented safety restrictions along this route including a posted truck speed limit of 20 miles per hour, and signage to warn truck drivers to reduce their gear, and to remain in a reduced gear.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/district2
Information about infrastructure in District 2, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D2Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
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CONTACTS: Timothy Nebgen, tnebgen@pa.gov or 814-765-0598 or Steve Harmic, sharmic@pa.gov or 814-496-6189
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