Travelers in the Northeast experienced significant delays and congestion as they made their way to witness the solar eclipse today. Karen Siegel, who was traveling along Interstate 93 near Lincoln, New Hampshire, encountered parking-lot level traffic just outside the path of totality. The journey that was supposed to take three hours from Newton, Massachusetts, to Barton, Vermont, ended up taking five hours due to the slow-moving traffic.
Meanwhile, in Warrensburg, New York, just outside the path of totality, off-highway lines are growing, causing exit ramps to become increasingly backed up. Gas stations within the totality zone in upstate New York are also experiencing long lines, not for gas, but for bathrooms. At a gas station in Pottersville, New York, the wait time in the bathroom line was nearing 30 minutes, with the line even wrapping around aisles inside the store.
These traffic and congestion issues highlight the high level of interest and excitement surrounding the solar eclipse event. Travelers are advised to plan their journeys carefully and allow for extra time due to the expected heavy traffic in and around the totality zone.