ODOT: Ohio traffic volume decreased on day of eclipse, higher day before and after
Although motorists were warned to gas up and be prepared for heavy traffic on the day of the solar eclipse April 8, the Ohio Department of Transportation reports there was an overall 4.4% decrease in traffic statewide compared to a year earlier.
ODOT released travel data Tuesday showing what traffic was like the day before, the day of, and the day after the solar eclipse in Ohio, which was among the prime viewing states along the path of totality. The data comes from more than 200 continuous traffic count stations across the state, and ODOT compared that data to the average traffic volumes observed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays in April 2023.
Statewide, traffic volume increased the day before and the day after the solar eclipse as Ohio residents and many out-of-state visitors apparently got into position and stayed put. ODOT data shows traffic volume increased by 12.8% on Sunday, April 7, and was 15.8% higher on Tuesday, April 9.
ODOT had recommended those who wanted to witness the eclipse get where they were going early and not to leave immediately afterward.
“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," ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in the data release.
"I also commend our crews for their efforts ahead of, during, and after the eclipse. It really paid off.”
However, there were several interstates and roadways within the state that did see large increases in traffic volume on April 8 due to the eclipse when compared to April 2023 averages, ODOT reported.
Roads with the biggest traffic increase on April 8
Many of the roadways with the biggest increase in traffic on April were within the path of totality for the solar eclipse. They included:
Route 31 just north of Marysville — 71.7% increase in traffic
U.S. 35 west of Chillicothe — 67.4% increase
U.S. 30 west of U.S. 224 near Van Wert — 53.4% increase
Route 14 west of Route 165 to the Pennsylvania border — 42.8% increase
Within the path of totality, traffic on U.S. 30 from Van Wert to Canton increased by 13%. ODOT also said that traffic on U.S. 23 between Chillicothe and Marion increased by 11.5%, with the biggest jump around Marion at 21.4%.
The state’s interstates also saw increased traffic. Interstate 71 north of U.S. 30 saw a 21.5% bump in traffic volume, Interstate 75 in Perrysburg south of Toledo in northwest Ohio was up 22.6%, and Interstate 70 saw a 15.7% increase between I-270 and U.S. 42. Traffic on Interstate 74 between Cincinnati and Indiana saw traffic surge by 14.8%.
The day after the eclipse, on Tuesday, April 9, I-70 had an 11.8% increase in traffic across the state.
Ohio Turnpike sees traffic increase during and after eclipse
The 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, also known as I-80, I-90 and I-76, saw traffic volume increases leading up to the eclipse and afterwards when compared to April 2023 data because it traverses the northern part of the state and much of it was in the path of totality. The turnpike averages approximately 139,000 trips per day, according to ODOT.
Monday, April 8 - 156,812 trips
Tuesday, April 9 - 162,381 trips
In preparation for the influx of travelers, service stations and plazas on the turnpike increased their hours of operations and inventories, including gasoline, food and other items.
OSHP made more traffic stops, saw less crashes
From Friday, April 5, throughTuesday, April 9, Ohio State Highway Patrol officers conducted 16,285 traffic stops, a 27% increase from the previous week. Troopers also helped 2,066 motorists with things like providing directions, changing tires, and providing aid to drivers who ran out of fuel.
Even with the increase in motorists, a preliminary report from OSHP shows that there was a 6% decrease in the number of crashes compared to the week before.
@ShahidMeighan
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2024 Solar Eclipse: ODOT report on traffic surrounding the eclipse
