TDOT officials have pleaded with drivers to not stop on state highways during the 2017 coast-to-coast eclipse on August 21. Their concern is that it could cause major traffic backups or accidents.
Nightfall, courtesy of the eclipse will first impact I-24 in Clarksville at 1:24pm on August 21st. By 1:27 p.m., sections of I-40, I-24, and I-65 will all be cloaked in darkness. All of the state highways will at some point see a total eclipse.
"Just have a plan and don't be in the middle of the highway," said BJ Doughty with TDOT.
Her plea to the nearly one million drivers expected on state roads was simple. Don't stop. Don't stop and take pictures. Don't get out of your car. Don't do any of that during the eclipse if you are on an interstate.
"We're worried about having a major incident on one of our roadways," she said.
