On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
Starting in Texas at around 1:30 p.m. CDT, the eclipse will occur in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and finally in Maine at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan may also experience the total solar eclipse.
With the anticipation of heavy traffic and congestion in some areas, some states and cities are limiting oversize travel leading up to and on the day of the solar eclipse:
Arkansas
No oversize travel in the state from sunset 4/4 until sunrise on 4/10
Illinois
No oversize restrictions at this time, updates available at: https://webapps.dot.illinois.gov/ITAP/
Indiana
The Indiana Department of Transportation is recommending all movement of oversize and overweight loads be completed the day before or day after the total eclipse (Sunday, April 7 or Tuesday, April 9). They recommend NO TRAVEL ON MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2024. High traffic volumes and heavy congestion are expected on state roads the day of the eclipse. For further information please visit eclipse2024.in.gov
Kentucky
No oversize restrictions but the state is warning about heavy traffic, and identified areas which they anticipate will be the worst: Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge at Paducah, the U.S. 41 Twin Bridges at Henderson and bridges that connect Interstates 65 and 64 at Louisville.
Maine
All overlimit loads are prohibited to move on Monday, April 8, 2024 as a safety precaution due to the solar eclipse.
Missouri
Superloads will not be allowed to move on April 8th in Southeast District. Single trip permits over 12’6″ wide, over 13’6″ overall height, and over 80,000 lbs. will not be allowed to move in the Southeast District on April 8, 2024.
New Hampshire
No oversize travel restrictions currently
New York State
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is restricting all oversize travel starting at 6:00 AM on Monday, April 8th and continuing through 9:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9th, within counties that are in the path of the eclipse. The counties that will be affected by the eclipse are:
Albany, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Seneca, Steuben, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
New York Thruway
Oversize travel is restricted on I-90 in both directions from Exit 24 in Albany to the Pennsylvania Line and on I-190 during this time. Oversize travel may resume half an hour before sunrise on Wednesday, April 10th.
Oklahoma
No oversize travel allowed 4/8 – 4/9 in McCurtain County only
Ohio
The state has not announced statewide DOT restrictions, but some cities, like Cleveland have decided to restrict oversize load movement, including Cleveland:
- The City of Cleveland has decided that no OVMs shall be able to move through the shaded area of the below map during the week of 4/1/24 – 4/8/24 (inclusive). Local law enforcement will be enforcing this.
Pennsylvania
No oversize travel restrictions at this time, view this map on the day of the eclipse to view heavy traffic.
Texas
Due to the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, that is expected to cause severe traffic delays, no size/weight permitted travel will be allowed on that day from midnight to midnight in the following counties: [Map]
Anderson, Atascosa, Bandera, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brown, Burnet, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Coleman, Collin, Comal, Comanche, Coryell, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Dimmit, Edwards, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gillespie, Grayson, Gregg, Hamilton, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lamar, Lampasas, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Marion, Mason, Maverick, McLennan, McCulloch, Medina, Menard, Milam, Mills, Morris, Navarro, Parker, Rains, Real, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, San Saba, Smith, Somervell, Sutton, Tarrant, Titus, Travis, Upshur, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Williamson, Wood, and Zavala.
Vermont
No travel allowed on 4/8 on state highways, unless otherwise stated, permits will not be issued for the movement of loads in excess of one hundred eight thousand (108,000) pounds, or over twelve feet (12’0”) wide or over one hundred feet (100’) long.
