There’s an estimated 50,000 to one million people expected to visit Niagara Falls for Monday’s total solar eclipse.
It will almost undoubtedly be the largest crowd to ever descend on the city.
But aside from enjoying the spectacle itself, a real sight-to-see will likely be the roads and highways, which could look a lot more like parking lots.
Six years ago, the last total eclipse caused traffic chaos across the continent. Roads and highways were at a complete standstill, something Niagara police say they are preparing for.
“That is a very real possibility,” Niagara Regional Police Const. Phil Gavin said.
With the Falls being the best place in Canada to view Monday’s eclipse, officials expect hundreds of thousands of people and tens of thousands of vehicles to travel from the GTHA, along the QEW, and descend on Niagara.
“We do expect there to be considerable congestion,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.
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The OPP are predicting big delays, and are deploying additional officers to try and keep traffic flowing.
“Along the QEW between Hamilton and Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, for the day. What we don’t want people doing is stopping on the highways, stopping on the shoulders,” Schmidt said.
Niagara police expect many of those drivers will then try to get into the Falls via highway 420, headed for Stanley Avenue.
“Coming into the city, most devices are going to send people that way, we’re going to do our best to keep that traffic flowing,” Gavin said.
“At some point though there is a threshold where the cup becomes full.”
The City Of Niagara Falls is directing eclipse watchers to four main locations they say are the best viewing spots, as well as Niagara Parks greenspaces– places drivers will likely try to reach via similar routes into town.
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The city says there are an excess of 20,000 parking spots up for grabs.
Police say they are pulling in as many officers as they can to help people get where they are going, including from other municipalities, services and levels of government.
“They’re going to be on the ground supporting our officers to bolster our numbers,” Gavin said.
Niagara EMS are also staffing up, but officials are reminding visitors to be prepared to help themselves, with water, food, medications and a bathroom plan.
And at some point on Monday, depending on how big crowds get, police say they may have to advise people to avoid coming at all.
“We’re hoping we don’t get to that point, in an ideal world things will work smoothly, but it’s a consideration we have to look at,” Gavin said.
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