Phenomenon could bring major traffic jams
AAA spokesman says to pack patience with eclipse glasses
The Great North American Eclipse also may turn out to be the Great North American Traffic Jam.
That’s what federal agencies are warning, anyway, with millions of folks preparing to witness the astronomical phenomenon Monday on the ground in the path of totality and in the sky aboard flights that they booked to get a better glimpse of the sun, or rather not to see the sun.
And there’s some history backup that it’s likely: It’s what happened during the eclipse in 2017.
How should Americans prepare for traffic jams?
To help prevent problems, the American Automobile Association offered some warnings and tips about driving during the eclipse. Most of them are common sense, like don’t drive and watch the eclipse at the same time, don’t drive with eclipse glasses on and avoid congested roads.
“Pack your patience,” Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA, told USA TODAY, adding that many folks are expected to be on the roads “whether traveling a great distance” or locally “out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse.”
A full tank of gas — or full electric charge — is a good idea, too.
The total solar eclipse is special because the geographical path in which it will be visible, running from Mazatlán, Mexico, to ChannelPort aux Basques, Canada, and through a small corner of Michigan, is a rare event.
Years of planning
Some of the people who want to see the eclipse — considering it a once-in-a-lifetime
event — have been planning to do so for months, even years. The calculations for where the exact path will be is based on math and may vary slightly depending on whose numbers you use.
Of course, just like you learned as a kid, you shouldn’t look at the sun directly. You’ll need special dark glasses, which aren’t safe to wear while driving or walking around because they are so dark to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays that you can hardly see anything.
The federal authorities, both the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, have warned that there likely will be gridlock on the roads and air traffic delays at airports.
Depending on where you are in North America, the moment the sun goes dark varies. In Michigan, the eclipse is expected to start at about 2 p.m. and end at about 4:30 p.m. When
the sun does dark, which, get this, is estimated to be at 3:13 p.m. in Michigan, expect the temperature to drop a few degrees.
It takes about 21⁄2 hours for the moon to pass in front of the sun, gradually blotting it out and revealing it.
“While an estimated 32 million people live within the path of totality, millions more will travel to see the event firsthand,” Shailen Bhatt, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, said in a video last month. “This rare event may be a once-in-a-lifetime for some but could have widespread impacts on the traveling public.”
He urged planning ahead and staying put to avoid traffic congestion.
In 2017, the last time there was a total solar eclipse in America, congestion in some areas reportedly lasted up to 13 hours after the eclipse, according to Transportation Research
News. An analysis of the traffic found the worst gridlock was just after the eclipse ended because everyone tried to leave at one time.
Construction in Luna Pier
In Luna Pier, one of the few Michigan cities where the total eclipse is expected to be visible, there’s an added problem.
The Interstate 75 overpass that visitors would use to enter and exit the city of about 1,400 people is under construction and closed until the summer, so, if there’s too big a crowd, more than say,1,000 people in Luna Pier, officials there said it will clog the roadways and create a safety hazard.
As for those taking to the air, the FAA and Department of Transportation also have issued warnings.
The FAA noted that in early April people are heading to their favorite vacation destinations, while on top of that, “a significant number of travelers are heading to various states to witness ‘The Great North American Eclipse.’ ”
Flight delays
Airlines, like Delta, have added special, sold-out flights just for eclipse viewing.
“Travelers flying along the eclipse path may encounter limited parking and potential delays at airports due to the high volume of aircraft and drones attempting to witness the total solar eclipse,” the agency said. “The FAA wants pilots to be aware of possible impacts to air traffic and airports along the eclipse path and is offering guidance to commercial planes and private aircraft ahead of their flights to witness the phenomenon.”
On top of that, the transportation department issued similar warnings to pilots, urging them to be prepared for airborne holding patterns, rerouting and for aircraft departing airports along the eclipse path to coordinate their departure times as early as possible.
The key to making it through the day, the feds said, is to allow for extra time at the airport and “be patient.”
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