LIFTED: Travel Ban Lifted On All New Jersey Roads

Travel on all New Jersey roads is now allowed.

Governor Chris Christie announced the change on Twitter around 7:35 a.m.

Christie had lifted the travel ban for vehicles south of I-195 at 7 a.m., with the snowstorm being less-than-expected.

All vehicles - except for emergency personnel, news media, utility workers, food-service employees and other necessary personnel - were included in the order.

Christie, speaking via telephone on NBC News 4 New York, said the delay in lifting the travel ban in the northern part of the state was due to coordinating the change with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to match the change in New York City in partictular.

Christie said the ban was justified, given the weather predictions.

“I’m looking at snow accumulations that were predicted at 20 inches plus,” he said on NBC. “We still got 6 to 10. We responded based on the forecast at 9, 10 o’clock last night.

“We erred on the side of protecting human life,” Christie said. The lower snow totals will make getting back to normal much easier, he said.

Later, on ABC7, when Christie was asked what he would tell people who criticize all the closings and travel bans, he said, “I’ll say we listened to you guys!”

The snowstorm that was supposed to batter all of New Jersey was much less than historic, with no more than 7 inches falling in Monmouth County, and half as much elsewhere.

Plows were out in the morning and a number of people were violating the order, and a number of people were angry about the order and protested online.

The order, signed by Col. Joseph Fuentes, superintendent of the State Police, noted Governor Chris Christie had declared a state of emergency and that a severe winter storm will produce hazardous travel conditions.

“The governor has determined it is necessary to take action in advance of the storm to lessen the threat to lives and property in this state,” the order states.

The State Police announced the decision as a blizzard hit New Jersey.

Also:

• Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency Monday as winter storm with tropic-storm-force winds began to fall in New Jersey.
• Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily grounded its operations as the snowstorm hit.
• The Garden State Parkway had a 45-mph speed restriction, as does the entire New Jersey Turnpike.
• The Commodore Barry, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin bridges to Philadelphia all had 35-mph speed restrictions.
• Emergency management officials throughout the area are watching the storm closely and have road-clearing equipment ready to deploy as the snow starts to fall.
• More than 1,400 flights scheduled for Monday were canceled, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware. Most major airlines are allowing customers whose flights are canceled in the next few days to book new flights without paying a penalty. Customers ticketed on flights to dozens of Eastern airports are generally eligible for the allowance, though specific terms vary by airline.
• A coastal flood warning is in effect for coastal counties, as the strong northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph accompanying the storm make conditions very favorable for coastal flooding, according to an announcement from Ocean County officials.
• “The impending weather conditions over the course of the afternoon will produce a variety of dangerous travel conditions throughout the state,” said Christie. “I’ve authorized state officials to take all necessary action in advance of the storm, and my administration will continue monitoring conditions throughout the remainder of the storm.”

Snow began to fall in New Brunswick and other places by mid-Monday as New Jersey prepared for the worst.

The National Weather Service’s blizzard warning, issued Sunday, remains in effect, with light snow turning heavy beginning at noon today and continuing through 6 p.m. Tuesday, with snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour and winds gusting to 50 mph as the nor’easter moves up the coast.

School districts throughout the state issue declared plans to dismiss classes early Monday, attempting to get in a half-day of school on the prospect of being closed Tuesday and possibly Wednesday as towns dig out. Some towns also have canceled evening activities for Monday and Tuesday, to encourage residents to stay home as much as possible.

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Counties inland will not be spared completely from the storm; current predictions are for 10 to 18 inches of snow inland.

The warning, which targets the greater New York City metropolitan area includes predictions of heavy snow and blowing snow, which will reduce visibility and make travel extremely dangerous, the National Weather Service says, with whiteout conditions possible. Secondary roads may become impassable.

The strong winds may bring down power lines and tree limbs, the service warns.