Hamburg, Pa. (AP) - State transportation officials have closed a 13-mile stretch of Interstate 78 in Berks County in both directions due to multiple crashes and whiteout conditions.

PennDOT spokesman Sean Brown says strong winds and blowing snow are making visibility extremely poor on I-78. The interstate is closed between Exit 23, Shartlesville, and Exit 35, Lenhartsville.

The speed limit on I-78 elsewhere in Berks County has been temporarily lowered to 45 mph.

The huge late-winter snowstorm has wreaked havoc on other Pennsylvania interstates.

In Carbon County, one lane of I-80 west remains closed between exits 274 and 277 due to a multiple-vehicle crash.

Interstate 76 outside Philadelphia and I-81 in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties have reopened. Both were closed earlier today due to crashes.

PennDOT says motorists should be alert for squalls and whiteout conditions.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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