Malloy: Highway Ban Remains In Effect; Local Travel Ban Partially Lifted in Select Areas

UPDATE: The travel ban will be lifted completely this afternoon.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy lifted a travel ban Tuesday morning only for local roads in Fairfield and Litchfield counties where those areas received considerably less snow than anticipated from a blizzard that impacted the entire state.

Malloy said the state’s ban on all highway traffic continues for Connecticut, and it’s very possible it will last into Wednesday, or possibly be lifted late Tuesday.

But residents in Fairfield and Litchfield counties can immediately begin to travel on local roads, the governor said.

Malloy said while the state received less snow than anticipated except for the Eastern part of the state, he is hesitant to lift the highway ban because “what do you do with trucks when they hit the snow.”

He also said he wants to be supportive to nearby states including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who are now dealing with the snowstorm.

“I don’t want I-95 to get overloaded with trucks,” Malloy said while explaining why the travel ban remains in effect.

Malloy predicted that the highway ban would be lifted either late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

“Tomorrow I see things being on a normal basis, a normal schedule,” Malloy said. “I want to get back to normal as soon as possible. As long as we can do it safely.”

Related stories:

• UPDATED: Winter Storm Continues to Pummel Parts of Connecticut
• Metro-North Service Stays Shut Down for the Storm
• UPDATE: Connecticut Snowfall Totals

Malloy said it’s clear the travel ban worked. There would normally be hundreds of accidents reported in a storm like this one on the highways, but only 11 were reported last night.

One minor injury was reported, the governor said.

“I’m very grateful,” Malloy said for the lack of accidents and injuries.

Malloy anticipated Metro North and Amtrak will continue to discuss when to restore their services. Bus service is still on hold but the governor anticipates that could be changing in some county’s soon.

Malloy also said as of 8:30 a.m. there were just eight power outages reported, which he said is fantastic. State Department of Transportation plows are working around the clock to clear roadways.

Additionally, the governor asked residents to clear out snow from fire hydrants, and clear drains and vents.

Malloy wouldn’t say the state dodged a bullet on this snowstorm because Eastern parts of the state in the Interstate 395 corridor are still getting whalloped with snow today.