As a winter storm threatens the Northeast, the NYS Thruway Authority is taking some drastic measures to keep drivers safe. All drivers are being asked to stay off the thruway in the Hudson Valley and New York City areas because of the snow. And tandem tractor trailer drivers are not even allowed on the thruway between Schenectady (exit 25A) and New York City because of the snowy conditions.
For truck driver Darryl McLucas time is money. "It's very important to get where I'm going. My load delivers tomorrow but I want to get there tonight so I can rest, get my ten hours and then get up in the morning, get unloaded," said McLucas.
But tonight, the big road block could cost McLucas as he tries to travel east. He's not allowed on parts of the Thruway (I-87), the Berkshire Spur (I-90), the New England Thruway (I-95), the Cross Westchester Expressway (I-287), and the Tappan Zee Bridge.
It's news that traveled quickly at the Pilot truck stop in Liverpool as truck drivers filled up their rigs. "I just came through there. I had to drive straight through to get by but I was worried about it. I got stuck in the Buffalo snow a while back and I didn't want to get stuck again," said Tim Thomas.
Syracuse is the stopping point for Monty Hand and his son but they had to drive through the elements on their way up from Texas. "We hit it bad in Arkansas we had to stop for 10-12 hours. There were accidents ahead of us and they had to close it off so we lost a lot of time. No miles, no pay," said Hand.
As McLucas heads toward the storm he plans to drive defensively and try to find a detour around the closed thruway. "If it's ice, I'm going to pull over and shut down. You can't do much on ice, if it's snow you have to take extra precautionary measures and slow down," he said.
For updates on conditions while driving you can listen to the Highway Advisory Radio and or look for the message signs posted along the Thruway. Road and weather conditions on the highway are also updated regularly here.
