Local News
Major interstates in Vermont were clogged, while the highways through New Hampshire were relatively clear a few hours after the end of the total solar eclipse.
Thousands traveled to watch the eclipse in its path of totality across New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine Monday afternoon. After sitting through hours of traffic to get to the north of New England, many headed back south.
I-91 and I-89 clogged in Vermont
In Vermont, southbound traffic was crawling across the entire state. From Burlington to the New Hampshire border on I-89, traffic was slow Monday evening. The Vermont Agency of Transportation said it’s “as expected.”
“Please be patient as our visitors leave after viewing the eclipse,” they wrote. The agency also said travelers on I-91 – which goes north and south through Vermont and into Massachusetts – are slow or stalled for more than 80 miles.
Much of I-91 through Vermont and I-89 through Montpelier were backed up as of 7:45 p.m., traffic maps show.
Windsor, Vermont’s Police Chief Jennifer Frank shared a comparison of northbound and southbound traffic around 4:30 p.m. after the eclipse. A steady stream of cars slowly traveling one side, while a lone car traveled on the other.
Traffic clears in New Hampshire
The congestion in New Hampshire was well-documented while drivers headed to the path of totality Monday morning. State police shared an aerial shot of drivers heading northbound I-93 and I-89 just before noon.
Around 7 p.m., traffic trackers were still showing major delays between Woodstock and Franconia, New Hampshire, which the state’s Department of Transportation warned about earlier in the afternoon.
Large stretches of the major thoroughfares through New Hampshire were relatively clear compared to neighboring Vermont, the traffic trackers showed around 7:45 p.m.
One resident shared a video of bumper-to-bumper traffic through small towns Gorham and Berlin, New Hampshire.
“I have NEVER seen this much traffic in Gorham/Berlin, New Hampshire for as long as I have lived here! This isn’t even half the traffic! So wild!! I’m thankful to be driving the opposite direction,” they wrote.
Maine’s rural towns experience traffic congestion
In Maine, the path of totality covered the state’s northern towns like Houlton, Jackman, and Rangeley. The state’s Department of Transportation said to expect severe traffic on Interstate 295 through Augusta.
Cars were parked on both sides of Route 27 In the rural town of Eustis, which has a population of around 600 people.
Newsletter Signup
Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com
