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Spring snowstorm slows midstate to a crawl

Becca Oken-Tatum//March 21, 2018//

Spring snowstorm slows midstate to a crawl

Becca Oken-Tatum//March 21, 2018//

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At Harrisburg International Airport, commercial passenger flights will be reduced to about a third of normal operations, airport spokesman Scott Miller said. Many morning flights were cancelled, and it’s hard to predict how afternoon flights will be impacted.

American Airlines flights will likely be most affected, Miller said, as many travel to and from Philadelphia and Boston, where the snowfall amounts are expected to be greater. 

Airlines have offered travelers opportunities to change their reservations without penalties, Miller said. 

In extreme weather situations, airport personnel’s main focus is ensuring parking lots, airport roads and runways remain clear and safe.

“Our crew has been here 24 hours and will be here another 24 hours,” Miller said. Unless the snow eliminates visibility, crews will continue to work.

The snowstorm will have a negative financial impact on the airport due to lost parking and airplane landing fees, Miller said. Situations like these are accounted for in the airport’s budget, though, so Wednesday’s losses are not completely unexpected.

Cargo flights have departed on schedule, Miller said.

Car travel restrictions

The Turnpike Commission, PennDOT and Gov. Wolf’s office have issued warnings and speed restrictions on a number of major roadways throughout the state, as well as bans for certain commercial vehicles. 

Both Miller from HIA and Carl DeFebo, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, urged travelers to think ahead before they leave the house.

“Anybody who’s traveling on any roads should question whether or not they need be out there,” DeFebo said. 

Turnpike crews and call centers are operating during the snowstorm, and any unnecessary travel increases traffic volume, making it harder for essential personnel to do their jobs, DeFebo said.

Gov. Wolf reinforced that Pennsylvanians postpone travel if possible and that crews are deployed statewide.

“This storm is not the way anyone wants to welcome spring, but Pennsylvania state emergency, transportation, law enforcement and many other agencies are prepared to keep Pennsylvanians safe, roads cleared and utilities operating,” Wolf said in a statement Wednesday.