Columbia County

Motorists in north central Pennsylvania are advised several roads are impacted in the area due to flooding.

PennDOT has implemented a long-term detour on Route 4009 (Millville Road) in Columbia County due to damage from the recent flooding.

The Bloomsburg Police Department is providing notification to all residents who live in the “West End” of Bloomsburg of the potential for Fishing Creek to flood. Fishing Creek can be unpredictable under the heavy rain conditions we have experienced over the last several days.

​All residents west of Railroad St. should be preparing to evacuate with short notice. Have personal items ready to go with the possibility of being away for up to 72 hours. Move valuables to a second story if possible. Residents should consider leaving now to reduce the possibility be caught unaware.

Motorists in north central Pennsylvania are advised there are multiple road closures this morning due to flooding or downed trees and utilities.

The following is the 7:00 p.m. list of closures:

Bradford County

Open as of 10:30 AM:

• Route 2001 (Sugar Hill Road) in Wilmont Township near the Wyoming County line.

Open as of 7:00 PM:

• Route 1055 (Battle Creek Road) in Rome Borough near the intersection of Route 187.

Columbia County

Open as of 12:00 PM:

Motorists traveling on Interstate 80 are advised the interstate is closed in both directions between Exit 242 (Mainville/Mifflinville) in Columbia County and Exit 256 (Conyngham/Nescopeck) in Luzerne County due to a tractor-trailer crash.

Due to drifting snow, PennDOT has closed the following roads in Montour and Columbia Counties:

Montour County

• Route 2016 (Schultz Road) west of Route 642 in Hemlock Township.

Columbia County

• Route 4019 (Derrs Road) to Route 4017 (Columbia Hill Road) in Madison Township.
• Columbia Hill Road to Rishels Camp Road in Madison Township.

Motorists should seek alternate routes.

Motorists traveling westbound on Interstate 80 should avoid the rest area at mile marker 256 in Columbia County due to the large number of tractor-trailers parked at the facility.

Because of the large number of vehicles parked at the rest area, snow removal has been difficult.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras.

10:30 p.m. update: Route 42 is now open.

Motorists in Columbia County are advised that Route 42 is closed between Eyersgrove Road in Greenwood Township and Black Run Road in Madison Township due to a vehicle crash.

A detour is in place using Black Run Road, Route 44 and Route 254.

The crash scene is expected to take several hours to clear.

PennDOT has lifted the speed limit restrictions that were in place on roadways in the region.

Due to the winter storm impacting the region, speed limits were reduced yesterday to 45 mph on Interstate 80 and Interstate 180. All speeds are restored to their usual posted limits.

Motorists should drive with caution due to freezing conditions that continue to exist throughout the region.

Update: PennDOT has restored speed limits on affected roadways

Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on Interstate 80 and Interstate 180.