No traffic problems reported during eclipse
Apr. 8—ANDERSON — Local officials reported no traffic problems as a result of the solar eclipse Monday.
"We were set up in case there was something really bad," said Jeff Dyer, director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency. "Our concern was that there would be a cascading event."
As anticipated, the heaviest traffic in the county was near the Mounds State Park entrance, according to Dyer.
"Traffic in the rest of the city was not an issue," he said. "There was typical traffic along Scatterfield Road."
Train travel inhibited traffic flow on Scatterfield Road, which is normal.
Dyer said the agency's spotters did a good job of monitoring traffic in the area.
"It was an excellent exercise for us," he said.
Deputy EMA director Lynn Eders said the agency communicated well with the public and local public safety agencies throughout the day.
"We were getting real-time reports from the spotters," he said.
Tom Ecker, public information officer for the Madison County Emergency Management Agency, said at 9:30 a.m. that the only heavy traffic area was around Mounds State Park.
Ecker said traffic on Interstate 69 was lighter than normal as a result of many people taking the day off work and noted that Mounds State Park was expected to be full before the start of the eclipse about 1 p.m. Local schools were closed Monday, as well.
Eders said the agency had 19 spotters at several location around the county to monitor traffic conditions starting a 6 a.m.
The Indiana State Police monitored traffic on the interstate from Anderson to Pendleton, Dyer said.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
