How the 2024 Solar Eclipse will affect Freight Transit in Texas
As you are probably aware, much of Texas will be in the “path of totality” for the Solar Eclipse on April 8th, 2024.
We wanted to help spread the word from the Texas Department of Transportation regarding how the upcoming Solar Eclipse could impact freight transit.
They recently sent this notice:
"Due to the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th 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:
Anderson, Atasocosa, 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, McLellan, 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."
Here is an interactive map to view the path of totality.
We have already planned one over dimensional shipment to pick up on April 9th based on this news.
TxDOT is also allocating additional resources to maintain safety on Texas highways and some construction projects will be halted from the 7th-9th.
Here are some additional safety tips provided by TxDOT:
On April 8, 2024, the moon will pass over the sun in Texas from 1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. Follow these safety tips to ensure a safe viewing experience:
Expect heavy traffic and sudden stops by drivers.
Be on alert for distracted pedestrians looking to the sky.
Keep your headlights on while driving, even in the daylight.
Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving.
Always keep your eyes on the road. Only view the eclipse once safely parked away from the flow of traffic.
While the eclipse will only last for 20 minutes, it is important to stay aware of how traffic patterns will be affected before and after with the influx of travelers on Texas roadways.
If you're planning to ship freight in April, we're here to help.
Our team is available to provide you a quote on any legal, over dimensional, or over weight load.
Give us a call at 903-759-5325.
Fun fact: It will be the first total solar eclipse over Texas since 1878, and the last total eclipse viewable from the -United States until 2044.