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This is about the highway disaster on January 3, 2025., on Route 220. Remember, we had a sudden snowburst, the one that was predicted to hit the valley, and no Lycoming Penn Dot trucks in sight?
I live in downtown Mill Hall, and wad driving to Harvest Moons Bowling Center for league. Roads were a bit nasty from Lock haven exit to Avis exit, but Clinton County Penn Dot trucks were noted on both north and southbound lanes. Crossed into Lycoming County, roads were in slightly better shapes, as twerps were driving at 65mph., plus creating snow trails needlessly. Noticed traffic stacking up just past Main Street exit, and stopped by the Rt 287 intersection. Saw two Lycoming Regional Police cruisers, and two or three emergency vehicles arriving. By the way, we were stopped for over 20 minutes at the overpass. Once traffic was moving, noticed vehicles involved were long off the road with police conducting interviews. Now it gets good. The road was complete sheet of ice northbound, and no better south bound. Saw one truck, appeared to be shut down, by the R&S Auto Sales Lot. What was Penn Dot waiting for? The snow to end? Then go out and treat roads? BAD MOVE!
Later at 8:30 p.m., noticed traffic stopped southbound. Waited until after 9 p.m., when traffic was moving slightly. Called 911 center to see if any updates were available, because it appeared that no one was reporting to state 511 system that Route 220 was in any type of poor condition. Made it to Sheetz and stopped again. Long story short, it took me 50 minutes for me to get from Bowling lanes to 287 intersection. And roads were not in good condition, quite icy. Made it to Clinton County. Guess what? The roads were bare and drying.
Sounds to me like Lycoming County's PennDOT needs to profusely apologize to residents of many counties for the horrid conditions of the highways. Earlier I traveled through Lycoming, Columbia, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties. ALL of these counties had some form of preparations in effect. All but Lycoming County.
Next time it snows, I may avoid Lycoming County, even to the chance of missing bowling, and let Lyco PennDOT pay my absent fees. Like they would care.
ROBERT MILLER
Mill Hall
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom