What to expect on highways to, from Bloomington, Indiana, for April 8 solar eclipse

Ask any emergency services expert how to plan for the eclipse, and they’ll likely use one phrase: “Arrive early, leave late.”

Bloomington, where Indiana State Police are expecting up to 300,000 extra people to come on April 8, is no different.

North America’s last total solar eclipse in August 2017 proved to be a traffic nightmare for rural and mid-sized communities in the path of totality, as thousands of people leaving at once after the eclipse resulted in hours of traffic gridlock along both highways and rural roads in Kentucky and Wyoming.

Bloomington may be on Interstate 69, but it’s surrounded by smaller, rural highways and has dense blocks downtown that are particularly prone to build-ups during rush hours. If you’re a newcomer to the area, or if you’re just wondering what to expect traffic wise on the big day, here’s what we know from those who’ve been planning ahead.

What towns in totality learned during the 2017 eclipse

The 2017 solar eclipse offered a glimpse into what traffic congestion and emergency planning might look like for the upcoming total solar eclipse. Emergency planners in towns along the path of totality knew the eclipse would bring an influx of tourism and traffic snarls, but they didn’t know what exactly to expect.

In Kentucky, traffic was a slow trickle leading up to the eclipse, but after totality, a massive influx of drivers got on the highway all at once, resulting in significant backups. The Pennyrile Parkway near Hopkinsville had a 10-mile backup and saw 23,927 vehicles on it in one day – a 60% increase from average, according to the Kentucky Department of Transportation (KDOT). A visitor coming to Kentucky from Michigan spent 16 hours traveling home, more than six hours longer than the regular route.

Wyoming saw record-breaking traffic on the afternoon of the solar eclipse, with more than 536,000 vehicles on the road – a number that nearly rivals Wyoming's population. Traffic between Casper and Denver was so backed up that a normally four-hour drive lengthened to 10 hours or more.

Congestion was particularly concentrated on rural roads and two-lane highways, infrastructure that also surrounds many entrances to Bloomington and surrounding regions.

Traffic jams like these spelled out a clear need for motorists to space out their departure following the eclipse and is a key reason safety officials and organizations, including the Indiana Department of Transportation, are encouraging visitors to stay late after the eclipse in the cities they’re visiting.

‘Take your patience’: Officials warn about possible backup

Emergency planners in Monroe County and Indiana State Police urge travelers to “take your patience with you” if you come to Bloomington for the eclipse.

“The biggest thing that we as state police are recommending is that folks take their time,” said Kevin Getz, ISP’s Bloomington office public information officer.

The major roads into Bloomington are I-69 and Indiana state roads 37, 45 and 46, some of which have as few as two lanes at times. A portion of I-69 between Indianapolis and Bloomington also remains under construction, limiting the number of available lanes.

Getz recommends travelers have a set viewing location in mind and plan to arrive well before the eclipse, as traffic may be backed up coming into town that morning. He also urges people to fill up on gas (or electric charges for EVs) to be prepared if their car is stuck in traffic.

Jamie Niebel, director of Monroe County Emergency Management, strongly encourages travelers to wait for a few hours – or even overnight, if possible – before leaving Bloomington after the eclipse.

“Traffic is going to last quite some time, because it’s not just Monroe County that’s involved. It’s a good chunk of Indiana, and actually, a good chunk of the Midwest,” Niebel said. “If you can do an evening exodus, that’d probably be best.”

Niebel says traffic jams will likely start on highways and interstates after the eclipse, and eventually result in congestion throughout the city.

“I think as people start to examine their map, they’ll try to find alternative ways to go,” Niebel said. “And then that’s when we’ll see the rest of the city and the rest of the county feel the wrath.”

She says some degree of congestion is inevitable given the influx of tourists, and encourages people to have a “laid back, Hoosier mentality” as they travel after the eclipse. She also urges drivers to be especially careful around downtown, where many are expected to be traveling on foot.

“We expect many people to be foregoing their cars and sticking to foot traffic, which is a good thing, but that comes with extra obstacles,” Niebel said.

Getz encouraged people to drive slowly and carefully in areas with high volumes of foot traffic throughout the day, especially around gathering spaces like Switchyard Park and the Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at the Indiana Memorial Stadium.

“Always keep a view of pedestrians,” Getz said. “We want everyone to have a good experience at this once-in-a-lifetime event. But we also want people to be safe.”

Monroe County, Indiana University offer free text alerts

Visitors and residents can opt into free text alerts for eclipse-related incidents that may impact public safety.

Starting Friday, April 5, anyone in Monroe County who would like to receive these messages can text “MoCoEclipse” to 226787 to opt in.

Everyone who opts in to the system will be automatically removed on Wednesday, April 10.

Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Traffic gridlock 2024 solar eclipse bloomington Indiana monroe county