OHIO, USA — The Ohio Department of Transportation's data regarding traffic for the solar eclipse shows that visitors arrived early and stayed late.
ODOT said travel data shows traffic volumes were up 12.8% on Sunday, April 7, fell by 4.4% on the day of the eclipse, and increased again by 15.8% on Tuesday, April 9.
“I’m grateful to all our state and local partners who spent more than two years planning for this event. Because of their hard work, millions of Ohioans and visitors witnessed the awe-inspiring eclipse and enjoyed a fun day here in the heart of it all,” Governor Mike DeWine said.
The biggest increase in traffic on the day of the eclipse was on State Route 31 in Marysville, which saw traffic increase by 71.7%. Locally, traffic on I-75 in Perrysburg was up 22.6%.
The Ohio Turnpike — which averages about 139,000 trips per day, according to ODOT — saw its highest traffic volume increases on the day of the eclipse and the day after.
On Monday, the turnpike saw 156,812 trips, while on Tuesday it increased to 162,381.
“As expected, there were traffic backups, especially eastbound, as travelers were returning home. The unusually heavy traffic was managed safely and as well as can be expected," Ferzan M. Ahmed, P.E., executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission said. "Message boards were used to prevent motorists from stopping on the shoulders and to slow down and to expect stopped traffic.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol also increased its presence on the roads from April 5 through April 9, conducting 16,285 traffic stops during that time, a 27% increase from the same time frame the week before.
ODOT said troopers assisted 2,066 motorists with helping change tires, providing directions and helping motorists who ran out of gas.
OSHP also saw a 6% decrease in the number of crashes investigated compared to the week prior despite there being an increase in traffic, according to ODOT.
"The success of this event was made possible not only by the dedicated efforts of our Patrol personnel and fellow safety service partners but also by the responsible actions of the motoring public," Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol Superintendent said. "Together, we ensured a safe and memorable experience for all."
To read the full data from ODOT regarding solar eclipse traffic, visit this link.