The best viewing spots for the solar eclipse later this month will be in southern Illinois, and IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said the agency is preparing for crowds of up to 200,000 people traveling roads like US 51, Illinois 13, and Interstate 57.
"We've already made plans to lift any lane closures on major projects in that area to help the flow of traffic," he said. "We're prepared to have temporary portable message boards brought in, just in case, to help with messaging and traffic flow."
Tridgell urges motorists traveling downstate to be prepared for heavy traffic. He also warns them not to pull over to the roadside to watch the eclipse.