Gov. Chafee orders cars off the highways by 5 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Gov. Lincoln Chafee has ordered vehicles off of Routes I-95, I-195, RI-146, RI-24 and I-295 beginning at 5 p.m., according to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.

The only exceptions include:

• Public safety vehicles and workers, including contract personnel
• Public works vehicles and workers, including contract personnel
• Government officials on official business
• Utility company vehicles and workers
• Health care workers who travel to and from work in order to provide essential health services
• News media
• Travel necessary to maintain and deliver critical private sector services such as energy, fuel supplies, financial systems and critical commodities
• Travel to support business operations that provide critical services to the public, including gas stations, food stores and hardware stores.

Both Connecticut and Massachusetts have closed the highways as well and all southern New England states have declared states of emergency.

Earlier in the day, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick banned road travel for everyone with the exception of public safety and public works workers, government officials conducting official business, utility workers, healthcare workers who must travel and news media.

Patrick warned that travel may become nearly impossible with blowing/drifting snow and near zero visibility during the height of the storm.

Conn. Gov. Dan Malloy has also closed the state’s roads.