Editor's note: This article Dallas Morning News coverage of the 2024 total solar eclipse.Learn more about dallasnews.com/eclipse.
Predictions about traffic jams caused by the roughly 500,000 tourists visiting the area for the eclipse did not come true on Monday.
Traffic on Dallas-area roads and highways remained light throughout Monday morning until 1:40 p.m. Despite signs warning drivers to keep moving, at least one person in the area of drivers stopped on the side of the road to watch the eclipse, but Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Hartzell said traffic jams occurred before and after the event, even though delays were expected. He said the move went smoothly.
“We didn't see a dramatic increase in traffic immediately after the totality. I think this indicates that people were prepared to stay a little later and avoid some of the traffic. '' Hartzell said.
Dallas police announced a “rolling road closure” on major highways from 1 to 2 p.m. to limit traffic to downtown. The road closures surrounded the downtown area and affected sections of the Woodall Rogers Freeway, including Interstate 35E, Interstate 30, Interstate 345, and where it connects with Route 75. However, downbound traffic was not restricted.
School closures are also likely to have contributed to easing traffic congestion, and the Texas Department of Transportation has banned large trucks from operating in counties affected by the outbreak.
TxDOT and local law enforcement have prepared more personnel for the event in anticipation of necessary traffic controls. Kaufman, Bell, Kerr and Travis counties declared states of emergency, predicting that the influx of tourists could cause road congestion. As of late Monday, that didn't appear to be the case in North Texas, Hartzell said.
A spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department confirmed that traffic was flowing smoothly after the eclipse and there were no issues to report.
Additional TxDOT staff will be at the command center tomorrow morning to monitor traffic conditions.
“We salute all the drivers who arrived early, enjoyed the event, and then left slowly,” Hartzell said. “It really certainly helped.”
