Checking out the solar eclipse next month? Don't park on highways, gather at rest stops
The solar eclipse will be viewable on Monday, April 8, and to prepare for the influx of traffic to observation points in Bucks County and beyond, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is warning motorists to not park on highways or gather at rest stops to observe the event.
"Our primary concern is public safety," said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, in a press release issued by PennDOT. "Troopers will have an increased presence in the area and zero tolerance for distracted, aggressive, and intoxicated drivers.
"This eclipse should be a once-in-a-lifetime event with fond memories, not an experience marred by tragedy."
PennDOT will remove cars from highways; will break up viewing parties at rest stops
The Pennsylvania State Police will not allow motorists to pull over on the highway to view the solar eclipse, nor will they allow people to gather at any of the state's 17 service plazas.
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"Pennsylvania State Police will remove disabled vehicles from interstates in northwestern Pennsylvania and post troopers at each exit to keep traffic moving," read the news release. "People gathered at rest stops will be directed to view the eclipse elsewhere."
Pennsylvania Turnpike will keep all lanes open at the Cranberry Interchange
Erie is in the direct path of the solar eclipse, and the state police are prepared for the extra traffic the solar eclipse will bring there.
"The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will be keeping all lanes of traffic open heading to and from Erie on I-79 via the Cranberry Interchange (Exit #28) and adding additional maintenance personnel in the event of an emergency," read a portion of PennDOT's news release. "To assist Pennsylvania residents and out-of-state visitors traveling to Erie, which will experience one of the longest period of darkness, PennDOT has developed an event specific 511PA page — www.511pa.com/eclipse24.
"The page offers various suggested routes to help drivers traveling to the area during what is expected to be a high traffic period."
Your Bucks County solar eclipse primer: Where and how to observe the solar eclipse in April. Will it be viewable in Bucks County?
PennDOT expects more than 200,000 people to travel through Pennsylvania to observe the solar eclipse.
"Nearly 435,000 Pennsylvanians live in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse, which will impact Crawford and Erie counties as well as portions of Mercer and Warren counties," read a portion of the release from PennDOT. "Upwards of 200,000 people are expected to journey into the City of Erie alone to watch the astronomical event, which could lead to travel challenges in different portions of the state throughout the day."
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Erie in direct path of solar eclipse; how to best observe there
While Bucks County and most of Pennsylvania are in the path of the eclipse, Erie in northwestern part of the state is in the path of totality and expects big crowds for the 3 minutes and 42 seconds event.
Your Erie solar eclipse primer: Solar eclipse 2024: Erie is in path of totality. Here's what to know
How will Erie prepare for the influx of people all angling for a view of this astronomical event? Here's what Presque Isle State Park officials had to say.
Early April is usually a slow time at the park, but the solar eclipse that day is expected to bring up to 30,000 people to Presque Isle, depending on the weather, said Matt Greene, the park's operations manager.
In Erie, People are encouraged to find places other than the bayfront to view the eclipse because the downtown traffic could be gridlocked on April 8.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Motorist guidance for skywatchers ahead of solar eclipse in April
