Montana Highway Patrol Warns Drivers: Expect Delays and Beware of Fire Hazards During 2017 Eclipse Event

Total Solar Eclipse

Montana Highway Patrol Warns Drivers: Expect Delays and Beware of Fire Hazards During 2017 Eclipse Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 17th, 2017

     Contact:

Sergeant Glen Barcus, 406-570-0590, [email protected]

 

Montana Highway Patrol Warns Drivers: Expect Delays and Beware of Fire Hazards During 2017 Eclipse Event

 

Helena, MT. —  The Montana Highway Patrol advises drivers to expect a significant increase in traffic and delays throughout the state in the lead up to and during the 2017 Solar Eclipse which will occur on Monday, August 21st, 2017. Although additional troopers will be on hand to help facilitate traffic flow, drivers should double their travel time to their destination, particularly in the following areas where the most amount of traffic is expected:

  • between Belgrade and Island Park, Idaho (US 191 & US 20)
  • between Three Forks and Island Park, Idaho (US 287 & MT 87)
  • significant traffic is also expected in West Yellowstone and Ennis

The Patrol reminds drivers to take proper safety precautions and be conscientious of the extreme fire danger present throughout the state. “Many people don’t realize that parking a vehicle alongside the shoulder of the road could easily start a grassfire,” says Sergeant Glen Barcus who is coordinating the Patrol’s response to the eclipse event. “Please only park in designated areas, don’t ash cigarettes or dispose of them out of the window and make sure that all tow chains are properly secured as a chain being dragged down the road could spark a fire,” Barcus continues.

According to Montana Public Radio, Montanans can expect to see around an 85-95% totality of the eclipse with peak totality occurring between approximately 11:30-11:50AM. The entire event should last approximately two hours and forty-five minutes. (www. mtpr.org/post/montana-will-have-great-view-2017-solar-eclipse)

 

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