Turnpike issues travel ban for high-profile vehicles

BEREA — The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission have announced a travel restriction for all high-profile vehicles ahead of a suspected major weather event. The travel restriction will be in effect from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 25 and cover the entire span of the 241-mile toll road, according to a release from The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. High-profile vehicles are defined as vehicles with a height exceeding 7 feet, 6 inches. Vehicles restricted from traveling the turnpike during the ban are: All LCV triple-trailer combinations. All long combination vehicles (LCVs) include long double-trailer combinations exceeding 90 feet in length. (Enclosed trailers only, including Conestoga-type trailers) All mobile homes, office trailers and livestock trailers Commercial trucks towing an empty single 53-foot trailer All high-profile tow-behind trailers, campers, boats, and enclosed trailers. (Fifth-wheel trailers are excluded from the restriction) Charles Cyrill, public information officer for the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, says the restrictions implemented will be "continually evaluated" throughout the day Saturday. Other types of vehicles not affected by the ban are: Self-propelled motor homes; Low-profile trailers; Fold-down camper trailers; Pickup trucks with slide-on camper units; Vehicles towing fifth-wheel type trailers or any other type of trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks; Commercial trucks towing single flatbed or box-type trailers; Commercial trucks towing a single 53-foot trailer with cargo/loaded; Commercial trucks towing a car hauler trailer; Commercial trucks towing flatbed double-trailer combinations more than 90 feet; Commercial trucks towing any double-trailer combinations less than 90 feet; 2-axle buses less than 40 feet; and Buses with 3 or more axles less than 45 feet. According to the National Weather Service, winds of 20-30 miles per hour are expected, with gusts potentially reaching as high as 55 miles per hour, in north-central Ohio.