Eclipse Traffic Jams: Gridlock In Illinois As Travelers Flock to Watch Eclipse

Southern Illinois will see the longest duration of the total solar eclipse on Monday, and travelers began flocking to Carbondale and nearby towns over the weekend to be ready. IDOT said it anticipated that 100,000 to 200,000 people will visit prime viewing areas in southern Illinois, "with the Interstate 57 (Interstate 24 to Interstate 64), Illinois 13 and U.S. 51 corridors anticipated to be the most heavily traveled." Heavy traffic made it slow going on southbound I-57 Saturday, according to News-Gazette, and late last week, Business Insider predicted southern Illinois could be among the worst "choke points" for "soul-crashing traffic" in the lead-up to the big event.

As of late Sunday, traffic wasn't nearly that bad — let alone "soul crushing" — according to the Southern Illinoisan.

The paper reported good traffic conditions along Illinois 13 and 148, U.S. 51, and Interstate 57. But Illinois State Police warned that U.S. 51, which cuts through the heart of Carbondale and is known as "The Strip," could see a high volume of traffic as the eclipse approaches on Monday.

Driver Safety Is Important – Especially During A Solar Eclipse

The City of Carbondale's public relations officer on Sunday afternoon said traffic was moving well, but was noticeably heavier than normal. Carbondale officials told the Chicago Tribune it was expecting as many as 60,000 tourists to descend upon the city, a welcome boost to the local economy. "Mother Nature has given us a gift," Mayor John "Mike" Henry told the Tribune, saying no other event could bring so many travelers to the city in a single weekend.

To prepare for heavy traffic, IDOT ended construction-related lane closures in affected areas early Friday. Construction in heavy-traffic areas will be halted until 6 p.m. Tuesday, IDOT said.

IDOT was urging motorists to expect traffic congestion before, during and after the eclipse, and to plan their travels accordingly. It also advised drivers to watch for pedestrians near eclipse viewing areas.

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The eclipse begins in Illinois at around 11:52 a.m. and will end at around 2:47 p.m. You'll want to be outside by around 1 p.m. to be ready to view the peak of the eclipse. The totality of the eclipse — when the moon totally blocks the sun — will start at around 1:20 p.m. in Carbondale and last about two minutes.

If you don't want to brave the traffic, you can always watch the event via NASA's live stream.

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