All Massachusetts RMV Offices Closed Today

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising the traveling public to continue to use caution throughout Thursday and into the evening hours as heavy wet snow will continue fall and may result in downed trees and wires on roads and along train corridors.

These impacts may occur unexpectedly so travelers should plan accordingly and recognize that clean-up and roadway impacts will continue even after the storm moves out of Massachusetts. Motorists should also use caution approaching signalized intersections that may not be operating properly due to power outages.

“Our crews are continuing to focus on clearing and cleaning up roadways and assisting with travel impacts such as trees and electrical wires that have fallen due to the heavy wet snow,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We advise the public to continue to monitor conditions, plan ahead if they will be heading out onto the roadways, and exercise safe driving behavior such as reducing speeds and giving space to other vehicles.”

At this hour, MassDOT has over 2,700 plows and pieces of snow and ice equipment on roadways across the state. Some of the incidents that have been addressed by MassDOT crews on Thursday morning include a downed tree and powerlines on Route 140 in Grafton, a tree blocking an exit ramp on I-93 northbound in Wilmington, and flooding on Route 6/28 in Wareham that resulted in the road being closed.

The public is also advised that all RMV service locations are closed due to winter weather and the fact that Commonwealth of Massachusetts offices are closed for all non-emergency employees. Members of the public may visit www.massrmv.com at any hour to perform many services.

All driver are advised to lower their speeds, give themselves extra time to reach their destinations, and remember MassDOT’s message, “Don’t Crowd the Plow,” meaning that motorists should stay behind snow removal equipment on the roadways. MassDOT strongly urges drivers to always wear seatbelts, minimize distractions, turn off or put away cell-phones and devote full attention to what is ahead on the road.

For updates on road and traffic conditions in Massachusetts, drivers can:

• Dial 511 before heading out onto the roadways and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
• Visit www.mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information, access to traffic cameras, and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
• Follow MassDOT on Twitter @MassDOT to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions
• Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.

Other important winter driving tips include:

• Clear snow and ice from all vehicle windows, lights, tailpipe area, hood and roof before driving.
• Leave plenty of room for stopping.
• Remember that the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
• Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time and distance to stop in adverse conditions.
• Bridge decks freeze first. Due to the difference in the exposure to air, the surface condition can be worse on a bridge than on the approach road.
• Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back at least 200 feet and don’t pass on the right.
• Seat belts should be worn at all times – it’s the law.
• Most importantly please remember to slow down.

Please review more information on safe winter driving.