LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) expects to see as many as 700,000 extra vehicles along the state's roadways for the approaching April 8 solar eclipse, prompting the department to release a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) in anticipation of the massive uptick in traffic.
"We expect a heavy influx of visitors to our state to view this rare phenomenon, and we're preparing accordingly," said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. "Our goal is to get everyone where they need to go as safely and efficiently as possible." Arkansas is among the states that will be within that path of total darkness as the moon passes in front of the sun about mid-day on Monday, April 8, 2024. The path of totality from the solar eclipse will enter the U.S. just south of Del Rio, Texas, and make its way northeast across the country before exiting through northern Maine.
In Arkansas, the centerline of the path will enter the state near DeQueen and exit the state north of Pocahantas. Among the cities that will be within the 100-mile wide path of totality includes Texarkana, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Conway, Jonesboro and Mountain Home, among many others.
Cleveland County will be just outside the path of totality. The eastern edge is expected to fall about halfway between Prattsville and Poyen in Grant County.
The TMP put out by the ARDOT included a map of the roads that are expected to see increased traffic before and after the eclipse. While the map did (continued from page 1) not include any roads in Cleveland County, some in neighboring counties are expected to see increased traffic. Hwy. 425 in Lincoln County as well as Hwy. 530 between Pine Bluff and Star City (a small portion of which crosses over the northeast corner of Cleveland County) are both projected to see "significant traffic" around the April 8 eclipse. In addition, Hwy. 270 west of Pine Bluff is forecast to see "significant traffic" as well. ARDOT defines "significan...
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