OS/OW travel restrictions during the solar eclipse

Photo: Reuters

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.

As a result, some states have enforced oversize travel restrictions with more coming as the solar eclipse approaches.

Updated 4/4/24:

AR: No oversize travel will be allowed from sunset 4/4 until sunrise on 4/10

TX: 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: 

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.

OK: No oversize travel allowed 4/8 – 4/9 in McCurtain County only

MO: 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.

IL: No oversize travel restrictions at this time, updates available at: https://webapps.dot.illinois.gov/ITAP/

KY: No specific oversize travel restrictions in place, but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has identified locations where backups are most likely, including the 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.

In addition, crews will temporarily remove work zone lane restrictions along key routes in parts of Kentucky where heavy eclipse traffic is expected. Some work zones will remain in place:

I-24 is restricted to 11-foot lanes and a 55 mph speed limit on the Tennessee River Bridge (mile marker 29). Alternate routes include U.S. 62 and KY 453 between Exit 27 and Exit 31, or via Interstate 69 South at I-24 Exit 25 to U.S. 68 East at Exit 47 to return to I-24 at Cadiz Exit 65.

The Pennyrile Parkway between Nortonville and Hopkinsville, one-lane southbound at Hopkinsville. U.S. 41 offers an alternate two-lane route, but motorists heading south should consider other routes such as Interstate 165.

Purchase Parkway between the U.S. 45/KY 80 Mayfield Exit 21 interchange and the state line at Fulton.

Various locations on I-65 in Bullitt and Hardin counties; I-64 and Interstate 264 near Louisville; I-64/I-75 at Lexington (lane shifts); and Interstate 275 in Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati.

State highway crews will be staged throughout western Kentucky to detour or move traffic along in case of backups – especially after the eclipse – but traffic congestion and delays are likely.

For more information, view the full news release by KYTC.

IN: 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

OH: 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.

PA: PENNDOT will restrict oversize loads on several roadways in the affected region. View the PA 511 map to see restrictions on the day of the eclipse.

NY 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

NY Thruway: The New York State Thruway Authority will also be restricting oversize travel 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.

VT: 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.

NH: No oversize travel restrictions at this time.

ME: All overlimit loads are prohibited to move on Monday, April 8, 2024 as a safety precaution due to the solar eclipse.