Update: Malloy Declares Travel Ban on State Highways

Update 4:00 p.m.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has announced that there will be a ban on motor vehicle travel on limited access highways in the State of Connecticut beginning at 4 p.m. These prohibitions do not extend to emergency response and recovery vehicles, including public safety vehicles, utility vehicles, and vehicles carrying essential personnel or supplies.

“As the weather gets worse over the next few hours, we need to keep the roads clear, so that emergency-related personnel and utility crews can reach those that may need our help,” Governor Malloy said.  “By traveling in these conditions, you are not only putting yourself in danger, but you are potentially risking the lives of first responders, utility workers and other residents. Please be safe.”

The travel ban will remain in effect until further notice.

The State of Connecticut coordinated the travel ban with Massachusetts and New York.

Original story

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy intends to declare a state of emergency due to the blizzard that is expected to wallop Connecticut Friday through Saturday, and is asking residents to limit non-essential travel during the storm. 

The governor's office has also indicated that Malloy is considering closing roads during the storm as early as noon Friday.

"People need to take this storm seriously," Malloy said in a statement. "If current predictions are accurate, we will need people to stay off the roads so that emergency personnel and utility crews can get to the places they need to get to, and to make sure that our plows can keep critical roadways clear. Please stay home once the weather gets bad except in the case of real emergency."

Per Malloy's office, a Declaration of Emergency provides the governor with a number of emergency powers, including:

• The ability to modify or suspend any state statute, regulation, or requirement (for example: altering work hours, waiving licensing requirements, etc.)
• The ability to order civil preparedness forces into action
• The ability to designate vehicle and person routes and movements