SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Officials estimate more than 100,000 visitors will stream into Vermont to view the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse on April 8. But with the rush to get to the Green Mountains, agencies across the state are monitoring how the event will impact traffic and public safety.
“We’re really looking at the big picture and hoping for the best, but planning for problems to come up so that we’re ready for them just in case,” said South Burlington Police Deputy Chief Sean Briscoe.
He says while the eclipse will provide a boost to the local economy, he expects to see a few problems on the road, among other things.
“We are expecting a lot of vehicular traffic and a lot of stress on services — gas stations, restaurants, that kind of thing. They’re going to be packed,” Briscoe said.
Early estimates project upward of 160,000 visitors to the Green Mountain State leading up to and on the day of the eclipse, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Officials say they are monitoring the possibility of pinch points or areas where they expect to see the most congestion, including interstates 89, 91 and parts of 93, as well as routes 4 and 7 in the Rutland area.
“We encourage motorists that don’t need to be out on the roads to not travel on that day. Make arrangements for another day, and be patient,” said Jayna Morse of VTrans.
They are also looking at where eclipse seekers are coming from. They believe most will come to Vermont along a direct route from places in Massachusetts, including Boston, Springfield and Worcester. With the anticipated number of travelers, both local and state police agencies plan to have full staff available to respond.
“For the state police, it ends up being on a day where we’ve got our staffing at full capacity. We’ve also restricted days off or annual leave so we should have a full allotment of troopers. We’re really just spreading people out,” Vt. State Police Capt. Matt Daley said.
“We do have plans in place to have about double the number of officers on duty that we usually have. We have a command team put together that’s going to be in place for that day, with all of the city department heads working together in case any major issues arise,” Briscoe said.
Authorities also say it’s important to have a plan before you go. They recommend making sure you have a full tank of gas, snacks and water in your car. And most importantly, to be patient getting into the area and flowing out when the eclipse is over.
Click here for all our eclipse coverage to help you get ready for the big day.