Malloy: Travel Ban Will Be Lifted Later This Afternoon for Connecticut

Gov. Dannel Malloy will lift the travel ban entirely at 2 p.m. after all state roads have received a second treatment.

The state for the most part was spared the worst of the predicted historic blizzard. Neighboring states Rhode Island and Massachusetts weren’t as lucky and are still experiencing strong winds, heavy snow and major power outages.

Malloy highlighted the fact that there were only 15 accidents on state roads after the travel ban went into effect 9 p.m. Monday.

“There is no doubt that we avoided hundreds of accidents,” he said.

Related stories:

• UPDATE: Connecticut Snowfall Totals
• UPDATED: Winter Storm Continues to Pummel Parts of Connecticut
• Metro-North Service Stays Shut Down for the Storm
• Malloy: Highway Ban Remains In Effect; Local Travel Ban Partially Lifted in Select Areas

Malloy thanked state residents who heeded the travel ban and said he is anxious to open the roads and get things back to normal as soon as possible. He urged that people should still treat it as a normal storm and take caution on the roads if travel is necessary.

Third shift state workers aren’t to report to work. Local roads, especially in heavily affected areas, may not be as well plowed as state roads, he said.

National guardsmen and state resources will be sent to areas like Pomfret and New London to help clear snow.

“We have had several requests which we will respond to particularly after we finish cleaning the state roads,” Malloy said.

Groton got 22 inches of snow and Putnam got 28 inches, according to the state Department of Transportation. But several areas of the state received a foot or less of snow accumulation.

Malloy also said he was pleased that the state had few power outages throughout the storm. Part of that was because the snow was light and ice didn’t accumulate on power lines. Utility companies also had an aggressive tree trimming program in place before the storm hit.

“We are learning and we are getting better at this stuff as we go along,” Malloy said.

Photo submitted by Patch reader Jeannie Jerolis from Groton.