How Cleveland is planning for the eclipse
CLEVELAND (WJW) — City, county and NASA officials were at the Great Lakes Science Center, one of the top destinations for the eclipse, to unveil the area’s plan for traffic and events.
Numerous road closures and parking restrictions are expected around Cleveland for the April 8 total solar eclipse, and the city’s traffic and safety plan is out now.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 total solar eclipse in Ohio
The eclipse is expected to draw thousands of tourists to Northeast Ohio, leading to large crowds, traffic jams and increased demand for cellular service and local goods and services.
The influx of visitors could be like a Browns game, a Cavs game, a Guardians game and St. Patrick’s Day combined, Mayor Justin Bibb said Thursday.
Traffic and transportation
Visitors are encouraged to bring cell phone chargers, power banks and water for their trip and create a meetup point should families become separated, said Sheriff Harold Pretel.
“Please pay attention to how you get down here. Parking’s gonna be at a premium,” he said.
City safety officials have been planning for the eclipse for “well over a year,” said interim Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond. The police department expects to have a full complement of officers.
“It’s important for those who are going to be driving that you please do not stop during the eclipse,” Drummond said. “You may prevent an ambulance or police vehicle from being where they need to.”
Officers will be directing traffic at intersections across the city, including all along Superior and Detroit avenues and East 9th Street — “all of the major thoroughfares that we anticipate we’re going to need for this event,” said police Commissioner Gordon Holmes.
Motorists should expect widespread eclipse parking bans from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 8 — Guardians gameday parking bans will also be in effect — and road and highway ramp closures on April 8, he said.
“I encourage everyone to please get down here early. We do anticipate there’s going to be heavy traffic” — and that goes for work commuters, too, Holmes said.
Greater Cleveland RTA is adding additional rail service to help move people in and out of the city on April 8, said RTA Director of Service Joel Freilich. The waterfront line will be running during the day all three days.
Riders are encouraged to plan their trip in advance using the RTA app. But they can scheduled with a human over the phone by calling 216-621-9500, he said.
See the city’s full safety plan here
‘It will all be here’
Eclipse day events are planned from Euclid to Bay Village and all along the lakefront, as well as in neighboring counties, said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.
That includes the Great Lakes Science Center, which is setting up a “NASA Village” for April 8. It will showcase the administration’s work with a virtual and augmented reality booth — where visitors can take a supersonic flight or visit the International Space Station — and hopefully inspire future NASA prospects, said James Kenyon, director of NASA Glenn Research Center.
NASA TV will also be broadcasting live from the science center’s lawn from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., said Kenyon.
“From science experiments, to films, to lectures, to theater, to dance, to music, it will all be here — with a wonderful view of the skyline and the lake for the total eclipse,” said Kirsten Ellenboggen, president and CEO of the center.
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