ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Bills kick off at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, and there's plenty of snow still pilling up in the Southtowns.
On Sunday afternoon, Gov. Kathy Hochul updated New Yorkers on the lake effect snow currently impacting Western New York. Hochul said Department of Transportation crews are clearing snow on State roads around the stadium to make them safe for traveling fans.
“As New Yorkers face the ongoing impacts of lake effect snow, first responders are working around the clock to ensure the safety of our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “With tonight’s kickoff in our sights, we are doing everything we can to clear roads, assess damage and provide state and local partners with the resources they need.”
A ban on empty and tandem commercial vehicles remains in effect on I-86 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-390 and on State Route 219 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-90.
To help with traffic safety for the Bills game, the State Department of Transportation is utilizing forces from its North and South Erie residencies, along with out of region equipment and forces, to double up on plow beats on the following State Routes in and around the stadium: Route 20, Route 20A, Route 219, Route 5 and Route 179. These operations began Saturday night and will end around 3 p.m. as fans begin to enter the stadium and start again from the opening kickoff until late in the fourth quarter.
Governor Hochul also shared that from 12 p.m. Sunday until midnight, tow trucks will be around the stadium to clear any incidents quickly and safely.
The Department of Transportation deployed additional staff and resources across the following areas:
North Country
- Receiving one ICS support staff member from the Capital Region
- Receiving three operators, one supervisor and one snow blower from the Mohawk Valley
- Receiving three operators, one supervisor and one snow blower from Central New York
- Receiving eight operators, two supervisors, three ICS support staff, two mechanics and four plow trucks from the Mid-Hudson Region
- Receiving two mechanics from the Western Southern Tier
- Receiving three operators, one supervisor and one snow blower from the Southern Tier
Western NY
- Receiving two mechanics from Central New York
- Receiving two mechanics from the Finger Lakes