Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – April 1, 2024 – The Arkansas Department of Transportation predicts traffic could be backed up on interstates and major thoroughfares Monday for five to seven hours as people flock to the state to watch the solar eclipse.
The department anticipates anywhere from 300,000 to 1.5 million people will drive into the state for the event. An early forecast that rain could dampen Texas viewers may drive them into Arkansas. I-40 and I-30, and US 63 are projected as trouble areas for traffic.
In Jonesboro, officials expect I-555 and the major roads of Caraway, Highland, Red Wolf and U.S. 49 will be clogged with traffic. Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott said he’s anticipating up to 100,000 people will be in Jonesboro that day.
All for 2 minutes and 21 seconds of totality – the time the moon completely covers the sun. It begins with totality occurring at 1:56 p.m. The event ends and the sun returns to its brightest at 3:14 p.m.
Monday’s eclipse has been hyped by the state’s tourism department and by chambers of commerce, ensuring hordes of people will visit the state. This is the first total solar eclipse in the state since 1918. Another total eclipse will pass through the state again in 2045.
This eclipse will be better than most because it occurs at the moon’s perigee – the point at which the sun is closest to the earth at 222,979 miles– and the moon will fit perfectly over the sun. “It’s the true meaning of awe” Darcy Howard, a Central Arkansas Astronomical Society’s eclipse outreach team member, said of the eclipse. “Once you see one, it changes you.”
Chief Elliott hopes people don’t change, or at least gawk skyward at the sun while driving. One of his biggest concerns for the day is if accidents occur and authorities are blocked in traffic jams and can’t respond.
All Jonesboro police officers will work that day; there’s no vacations or compensation days allowed Monday, he said. Officers will also double up in patrol cars and be situated at various areas in the city to respond quickly if needed. Other officers will use motorcycles or bicycles.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Elliott said. “We are going to get wherever we are needed. If we have to, we can get a helicopter.”
Jonesboro’s two ambulance services will also increase their staffing to deal with any emergencies.
Anthony Coy, the director of the Craighead County Office of Emergency Services, said he’s been planning for this for over a year.
He said crowds will begin surging into Jonesboro during the weekend. They may not stay in Jonesboro for the totality, but instead head either west or north to more rural areas. When the moon does cover the sun, street lights will turn on and business lights are expected to begin glowing, creating light pollution that may hinder the full eclipse viewing experience.
Coy does think visitors will stage in Jonesboro, staying in its many hotels before venturing out Monday morning to find a suitable viewing spot, thus crowding the city’s roads.
When the event is over is the time officials expect the worst traffic issues. “They will all want to start going home at the same time,” Coy said. “Patience can be short.”
Elliott said if motorists do get in accidents, if vehicles are not damaged, they are asked to pull them to the side of the road.
He also expects cell telephone service to be hampered due to extremely high use and said people can text emergencies to the city’s 911 service.
“This probably will be the largest event in the state,” the Chief said. “We’re going to deal with it. We’ll take it as it comes and adjust accordingly.”