Travel Ban Remains in Place for Eastern Mass., Turnpike

By Les Masterson (Patch Staff)

Gov. Charlie Baker said the travel ban remains in place across Eastern Massachusetts and on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Baker announced at noon that Western Massachusetts counties are no longer under the travel ban except for the Mass Pike.

Baker said parts of Eastern Massachusetts are seeing snowfall rates at the moment that are similar to when the storm first hit overnight. Parts of Eastern and Southern Massachusetts may still get another 5-10 inches of snow and could face white-out conditions.

The governor also said some snow drifts are as tall as six feet in Eastern Massachusetts.

The travel ban stays in place across Eastern Massachusetts for now, but he hopes to have more information by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

There have been “several instances” of drivers being cited for violating the ban, including a truck driver whose tractor-trailer jack-knifed on I-91.

Baker added that he expects the MBTA will not be in service at all on Tuesday.

The governor said there has been widespread moderate coastal flooding and some isolated major flooding. A seawall in Marshield was breached and “took out” an unoccupied house, said Baker.

The governor expects things to return to normal on Wednesday though he acknowledged it will be a slow start in the morning.

“This is clearly a very big storm for Massachusetts. I’m glad we had a little bit of advanced warning to plan for it,” he said.

Baker asked for residents to check on their neighbors when they can.

He said people with transportation questions can call 511.

Those with shelter questions can call 211.

Photo credit: Anthony Quintano via Flickr