Gov. Patrick: Parking ban helpful for repair crews

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Friday afternoon, Governor Patrick declared a state of emergency and banned all vehicles from being on the road after 4PM.

22News spoke with Governor Patrick Friday evening.

He said that the driving ban has been helpful for emergency vehicles and also for utility repair crews.

He also said he will assess the situation around sunrise Saturday morning to determine when he will lift the driving ban. According to Patrick, we may benefit by living in the western part of the state.

"The Storm has been severe across the whole commonwealth. But less so in Western Massachusetts. It MAY be that in the morning that we can start lifting the ban, gradually starting in the west and moving eastward as the storm moves out to sea," Said Patrick.

 The driving ban has helped utility repair crews move freely enough to address some power outages during the storm.