The New York State Thruway turned into the Thomas E. Dewey parking lot overnight Tuesday.
The Interstate 90 officially shut down between the Ridge Road exit and Dunkirk exit around 1:30 a.m. because of deteriorating conditions due to the lake effect snow storm that parked itself over the area. It is now closed in both directions between the PA line and Henrietta.
MORE | Current list of travel bans, advisories and road closures
State Police estimate 140 vehicles are stuck around the Lackawana toll barrier due to severe weather. Lanes are being cleared to move vehicles. Around 100 are stuck westbound while 40 are stuck eastbound. Troopers are checking on the welfare of motorists.
Some truckers made their way off of the Thruway before It closed.
Governor Cuomo's office says the state is sending in additional resources, including deploying the National Guard to Erie County to provide payloaders, highlifts, and tow trucks to help clear roadways.
The Department of Transportation is sending in eight plows as well as 36 operators and supervisors. The New York State Department of Transportation has a total of 410 snowplows and 1,018 operators and supervisors in Western New York for the storm.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is our number one priority, and I urge drivers to stay off the road in this dangerous weather,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are deploying resources to clean up as quickly as possible, and we ask that only necessary trips are made until we do so.”
State Police did drive to areas where vehicles were stranded to give out gasoline, energy bars and blankets.
