Travel ban ended statewide at 4PM

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - The snow definitely picked up in intensity overnight, with accumulations over 20” in some parts of western Massachusetts, and even higher totals to our south and east in Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts.

The high amounts of snow and whipping winds caused hazardous driving conditions, and as a result, a statewide travel ban remained in effect for much of the state.

Governor Deval Patrick announced on Saturday afternoon that the ban on travel was lifted for communities west of Interstate 91 and on Nantucket, but remained in effect elsewhere in the state until 4:00 P.M.

Driving from Chicopee to Wilbraham on Saturday morning was extremely difficult for our 22News crew (media and essential public services are exempted from the ban.) It was definitely hard to see around corners.

Plow drivers in the area told 22News that the visibility got so bad that they had to pull over for a little while. The low visibility and high snow drifts were some of the reasons that Gov. Deval Patrick banned all non-emergency vehicles from the roadways.

“The crews were expected not to be out until the storm was over for their own safety, but in fact, utilities have been sending out crews where they thought it was warranted and safe,” Patrick said.

For those looking to take public transportation, services were suspended for the PVTA, the FRTA, and the BRTA. The MBTA in Boston was not running.