Total solar eclipse could mean total traffic nightmare in NY as Hochul warns motorists to pack water, snacks
NY Post
If you’re taking a road trip for a better view of the eclipse, you’ll want to pack plenty of patience along with your safety glasses and granola bars.
Millions of Americans are hitting the road for Monday’s total solar eclipse, which is expected to cause a total traffic nightmare on at least 30 interstate highways in the path of the totality, where the sun will be completely blocked by the moon’s shadow for up to four minutes.
The expected impact on roadways from Western New York to Central Texas is already being compared to “20 or 30 Super Bowls happening all at once” by Richard Feinberg of the American Astronomical Society’s Eclipse Task Force.
At a special pre-eclipse press conference at Niagara Falls Sunday, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned that unusually heavy traffic was set to hit the Empire State in the coming days.
“We are literally over the moon to welcome over 1 million people to our state for this once in a generation moment,” Hochul said, speaking via Zoom from Albany amid protracted state budget talks.
Hochul said with so many gawkers expected, the state is treating the rare celestial happening “as if it’s one of the big storms” when it comes to traffic safety.
