Governor Healy orders travel ban for Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties as nor'easter batters Massachusetts

Governor Healy ordered a travel ban covering Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties as a powerful nor'easter continued to batter eastern Massachusetts, saying the restriction is necessary to allow plows and utility crews safe access to clear roads and restore service.

"For everyone's own safety, we beg and ask everybody to stay off of the roads," Healy said, urging residents to remain home while crews address hazardous conditions. The governor said the ban is limited to the South Coast and Cape Cod and applies only to essential personnel, including first responders, utility crews, contracted support staff, food and fuel delivery workers, and medical personnel.

The Massachusetts State Police warned that violating the travel ban carries a $500 fine. A lieutenant colonel said enforcement teams have focused on clearing disabled vehicles that further obstruct response operations; officials reported roughly 350 disabled motor vehicles across the state, with concentrated counts in the Greater Boston and South Shore areas.

Healy said the state has also activated and deployed roughly 200 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist in response and rescue operations. He said mutual-aid requests brought additional crews from neighboring states and the region to surge resources in the hardest-hit communities.

The travel ban announcement also included an advisory change for the Massachusetts Turnpike: officials provided a temporary 40 mph speed advisory for travelers on the Pike as a safety measure.

The administration said it will notify the public when it is safe for nonessential travel to resume. Officials urged residents who need warming or sheltering assistance to call 211.

The briefing closed with Healy asking residents to check on neighbors and to follow local guidance on school closures and public-safety notices.