States are trying to prevent a massive eclipse traffic jam
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. - For months, state highway officials from 14 states have been meeting regularly via conference call to plan for - or more importantly try to head off-- what could be the largest traffic jam in U.S. history Monday, when an estimated 200 million people will be within a day's drive of the path of the first total solar eclipse in 99 years.
The roughly 70-mile-wide path of totality - where the moon will block 100 percent of the sun - stretches from Oregon to South Carolina.
In Oregon, where the totality begins at 10:16 a.m. at Depoe Bay, officials have ordered extra-wide-load trucks off the highways through Tuesday to ease congestion, and in Madras, which has been identified by many experts as one of prime viewing locations, the National Guard is being called in to help control traffic. The event ends 92 minutes later outside McClellanville, South Carolina, where the state is bracing for more than 1 million visitors.
"Basically we'd all be on the phone and we'd go west to east around the group in the conversation and compare notes and bring up concerns, and then a light bulb would go off in someone's head. And we basically kept doing that until we felt we were completely prepared," said Matt Hiebert, assistant director of communications at the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Hiebert, who chaired the task force of state highway officials, said they agreed on a common message and communication strategy to educate the public. One of the biggest concerns: motorists stopping on the interstate or shoulder to view the eclipse, which in addition to being a safety hazard would cause massive gridlock.
The Federal Highway Administration has asked states to suspend all road construction Monday to ease the flow of traffic. FHWA also is changing interstate dynamic message boards nationwide: A total solar eclipse is coming. The sky will get dark. The sun will appear to go away in the middle of the day. Do not slam on your breaks. Do not be afraid.
"We don't really know exactly how many might be out there driving around . . . but we know that there will likely be several million," said Martin Knopp, associate administrator for operations at FHWA.
In most states, it's an "all hands on deck" situation for highway workers and law enforcement and they will be out in force to both keep traffic moving and help motorists who might need assistance. From there, "each state works a little differently" Hiebert said.
In Missouri, for example, the eclipse coincides with the end of the state fair on Sunday and the first day of classes for the state university on Monday. Highway work zones have been suspended in key areas to ease traffic flow, but they can't ban wide-load trucks when there are roller coasters and other fair rides to break down and move out.
The eclipse will reach its point of greatest duration in Carbondale, Ill., and officials there have a "bring it on, we're ready" attitude when it comes to visitors, Hiebert said. But once all those people arrive where do you put them?
Carbondale officials are asking visitors - estimated to be around 70,000 - to park outside the city.
"One of the key strategies we developed . . . is to establish remote parking areas on the periphery," City Manager Gary Williams said. The city has contracted with a local bus company to shuttle passengers to and from downtown.
State officials estimate 100,000 to 200,000 people will visit southern Illinois for its prime viewing locations and they've suspended most road construction starting Friday morning and continuing through Tuesday evening.
Eventually, all those visitors will return home, which means they will need gas.
Amy Inama, a spokeswoman with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, is an East Coast native. She points out that drivers from that part of the country are used to cities - and gas stations-- being a lot closer together.
"Out here, there's not a lot of cities between cities," she said, "so we're really urging motorists to make sure they have plenty of fuel. Stop, fuel up as often as you can, because sometimes there's miles and miles of road that there's no cities in between."
Ground zero
On a normal Monday, you can stand in the middle of Kentucky Highway 624, here in Hopkinsville, and not see a single car. To the right, Mary Jane Cornelius' soybean field goes on for acres. At the end of the road - where 624 meets Kentucky Highway 91, you'll find three houses: Doug Mosley lives in the middle with his son and daughter on either side. Once a day, he comes out to check the mail, otherwise, you're unlikely to see anyone.
On Monday, "That [intersection is] essentially Ground Zero for the whole country," said Keith Todd, a spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
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