Full Notification

Hempfield Township Officials are requesting drivers within the Township follow our Voluntary Travel Restriction starting at 7PM tonight until 1PM tomorrow, February 18th. This coincides with the Winter Weather Advisory that has been issued by the National Weather Service. During these hours Hempfield Township requests all persons to limit driving only for essential purposes and to delay any non-emergency travel until roadway conditions improve. Those who must drive during this advisory are also cautioned to drive slower than the posted speed limit, as rapidly changing conditions may create hazardous driving circumstances.

This request has been issued because the supply of road treatment material is again at a critical level. Hempfield Township did receive 100 tons of road salt from PennDOT as an emergency allocation this past Friday. A total of 500 tons was requested from the State on February 5th. Due to the snowfall this past weekend, much of that supply has been consumed.

The Township has had 3000 tons of road salt on backorder from the supplier for over a month. There have only been sporadic, low quantity deliveries. Hempfield Township has been in salt-conservation mode for over a month. In addition, Hempfield Township has been augmenting the non-delivered salt with the acquisition of anti-skid material. Anti-skid does not melt the snow and ice.

Hempfield Township Emergency Management communicated earlier this morning with the National Weather Service and were informed to expect 2 to 4 inches of snowfall by morning. As long as the accumulation remains four inches or under and the temperatures rises above freezing around noon on Tuesday, this should remain a short lived inconvenience.

Township officials understand the frustration that the conditions of this winter have caused. For the benefit of public safety these Voluntary Travel Restrictions are necessary.