Oregon already feeling the brunt of eclipse traffic
So if you are wondering when is a good time to hit the road to Oregon to set up shop for the Aug. 21 eclipse, the answer seems to be “a few days ago.”
Still four days from the big event, there are reports of traffic backups around the state, and especially on Highway 26 near Prineville.
Oregon State Police report that eastbound traffic into Prineville is backed up 15 miles.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HWY 26 east of Prineville is at a standstill from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OReclipse?src=hash">#OReclipse</a> travelers. 8 mile backup. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/knowbeforeyougo?src=hash">#knowbeforeyougo</a> <a href="https://t.co/T1BWT23mQS">pic.twitter.com/T1BWT23mQS</a></p>— Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/ORStatePolice/status/898242094757818368">August 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Many reports estimate 1 million visitors will come to the state for the eclipse, which would equal about a quarter of the state’s population of 4 million.
“We know there’s going to be more people in our state than just about any time in history,” Cory Grogan, with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, told KGW TV in Portland.
Traffic snarls began earlier in the week. Jennifer Bell Smith of Prineville shot this video of the backed-up traffic Wednesday near the central Oregon town. With the heavy traffic, travels are advised to start with a full tank of gas and pack plenty of food and water.
The Associated Press is reporting that a handful of gas stations in Bend and Prineville also temporarily ran out of fuel Wednesday before getting restocked. Prineville is the last town before the turnoff for an eclipse-themed festival that’s expected to attract 30,000 people in a remote area with narrow, one-lane roads.
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Idaho also is preparing for a crush of eclipse traffic, though the Idaho Transportation Department is having some fun dispelling “eclipse myths” ...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Because the Interstate isn't going one-way.<br>4 myths about your road trip for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IdahoEclipse2017?src=hash">#IdahoEclipse2017</a>.<a href="https://t.co/YINJE16kdn">https://t.co/YINJE16kdn</a> <a href="https://t.co/NsqgzZLxir">pic.twitter.com/NsqgzZLxir</a></p>— ITD (@IdahoITD) <a href="https://twitter.com/IdahoITD/status/895666801484283904">August 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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and offering this advice:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Traveling for the Eclipse? Don’t start a wildfire. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IdahoEclipse2017?src=hash">#IdahoEclipse2017</a><a href="https://t.co/M32h3ZbbTZ">https://t.co/M32h3ZbbTZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/V8tprZCcLV">pic.twitter.com/V8tprZCcLV</a></p>— ITD (@IdahoITD) <a href="https://twitter.com/IdahoITD/status/897160040389394432">August 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Whichever direction you’re traveling for the big event, don’t wait until the last minute.
This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Oregon already feeling the brunt of eclipse traffic."