COLUMBUS, Ohio — Leading up to the April 8 solar eclipse, Ohio officials asked visitors to come early and stay late.
Now, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Turnpike and Ohio State Highway Patrol are releasing data showing that's how Ohio avoided gridlock following the solar eclipse.
“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,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
The Ohio Department of Transportation says that traffic volumes were up by 12.8% on Sunday and fell by 4.4% on April 8. However, traffic increased again to 15.8% on Tuesday, the day after the eclipse.
On Tuesday, April 9, traffic on I-77 was up 11.1%, including a 20% increase in traffic south of Canton.
“This data shows that Ohioans and visitors did what we asked of them, and it worked to prevent a huge surge of traffic directly following the eclipse. I also commend our crews for their efforts ahead of, during, and after the eclipse. It really paid off,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
The Ohio Turnpike says that traffic increased during the days leading up to, during and after the eclipse.
The highest traffic volume increases on the Ohio Turnpike were on Monday, April 8, with 156,812 trips, and Tuesday, April 9, with 162,381 trips. The Ohio Turnpike says that it normally averages about 139,000 trips per day.
“I commend our staff and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their meticulous planning in preparation of the solar eclipse,” said Ferzan M. Ahmed, P.E., executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in Berea, Ohio. “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. Message boards were used to prevent motorists from stopping on the shoulders and to slow down and to expect stopped traffic.”
As large crowds gathered and came to Ohio, OSHP heightened its operations to make safety a top priority.
From Friday, April 5, through Tuesday, April 9, troopers conducted 16,285 traffic stops, marking a 27% increase from the same time frame the prior week. Additionally, troopers assisted 2,066 motorists by helping change tires, providing directions and aiding motorists who ran out of gas.
However, OSHP troopers also saw a 6% decrease in the number of crashes investigated.
"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," said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol Superintendent. "Together, we ensured a safe and memorable experience for all."