Experts predict that the solar eclipse on April 8 will cause traffic to back up for thousands of miles. “Pack your patience, whether travelling a long distance or locally, people will be out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse,” Aixa Diaz, a representative for the American Automobile Association, told The Mirror. A large crowd is expected to assemble around the eclipse’s epicentre, which is in Ohio’s Lorain County, in search of the best viewing spot. Crowds will be visible in cities, towns, and isolated areas, and many of these locations may lack the necessary infrastructure to accommodate such a large population.
Officials in Lorain County have warned residents there could be an increase in visitors. They must brace for traffic and jammed roads, and there could even be cell phone signal drops. “What we could have is crowds here that we’re not used to,” said Dave Freeman, the director of Lorain County Emergency Management, according to USA Today. “We’re not set up infrastructure-wise for that, we don’t have the roads.” According to an announcement from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the state may see “an influx of anywhere from 17,000 to 66,000 visitors to watch the solar eclipse, according to a study conducted by GreatAmericanEclipse.com.” Parts of southeastern Oklahoma will see a total solar eclipse.
Visitors will likely watch the eclipse within the path of totality in which the moon will completely block out the sun
“Visitors will likely watch the eclipse within the path of totality in which the moon will completely block out the sun. This stretches across southeastern Oklahoma. The path of totality will completely cover McCurtain County and partially cover Choctaw, Bryan, Atoka, Pushmataha, Latimer, and Leflore Counties. The town with the longest total eclipse viewing time will be Shults, Oklahoma, approximately 3 miles east of Idabel, with 4 minutes and 19 seconds of viewing time, according to eclise2024.org. The eclipse will pass over Oklahoma starting at 1:44 p.m. CDT and end by 1:51 p.m. CDT on April 8, 2024,” the announcement says.
It added that the roads may be overwhelmed with traffic, and the major highways in the area are US-70, US-259, and State Highway 3. It added that residents must plan, by filling up gas tanks, stocking up on groceries, checking the weather etc. It also offered some safety advice, such as not stopping along roadways or on their shoulders, not taking photos while driving, and keeping an eye out for pedestrians. It asked drivers to turn on their headlights and not pick up hitchhikers.