Thruway, I-290, 400, 219 reopen; only I-190 in Erie County is still closed

Thruway, I-290, 400, 219 reopen; only I-190 in Erie County is still closed

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(Updated at 12:11 on Tuesday)

The main line throughway (I-90) is now open, according to NITTEC officials. Previously, the thruway was closed between his 46th exit and the Pennsylvania Line.

Interstate 290 and U.S. Routes 400 and 219 are also open, a NITTEC official told The News, but I-190 in Erie County remains closed.

As of Tuesday morning, the Niagara County portion of Interstate 190 had reopened, but the Erie County portion remained closed. This is likely because officials didn’t want drivers to exit the Buffalo City highway, which is still prohibited.

The Lackawanna driving ban was downgraded to advisory as of 10 a.m., but the entire Route 5 remains closed, according to city officials.

Buffalo was the last municipality to issue a travel ban, and the rest of Erie County remains under travel advisories.

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Prohibition prohibits the movement of persons other than emergency responders. No unnecessary travel is advised under travel advisories.

The Niagara County portion of Interstate 290 and Interstate 190 reopened around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to NITTEC.

U.S. 219 and U.S. 400 have also reopened, as has U.S. 93 from U.S. 5 to Tonawanda Creek Road in Newstead.

I-990 between Millersport Highway and I-290 has also reopened.

The county remains in a state of emergency as crews continue to clean up the deadly Christmas weekend blizzard.

Travel bans were lifted early Sunday morning in Genesee and Niagara counties.








Map courtesy Erie County


Many areas of Erie County are no longer banned, but officials have cautioned motorists.

For example, the town of Tonawanda on Monday advised anyone who “has to go out” to “be careful on the road, especially when approaching or passing intersections.”

Authorities are urging the public not to travel to areas where travel bans are in place. The situation outside is life threatening and emergency vehicles are stuck on the streets.

The Rainbow Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge have reopened, but the Peace Bridge remains closed to traffic to Canada, according to NITTEC.

A complete list of regional highway closures can be found on the Niagara International Transport Technology Coalition website.

Those roads also remain closed as of 9:30 am Tuesday, according to NITTEC.

• Route 5 from Interstate 190 in Buffalo to Big Tree Road in Hamburg.

• I-190 between Niagara Falls Mainline Thruway and Buffalo Avenue

• Kensington Expressway (Route 33)

Strong winds and snowstorms have caused major winter storms in many US states, including Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wyoming.


News staff reporter Barb O’Brien contributed to this report.