Sikeston to increase patrol for Solar Eclipse event
SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI)-The total solar eclipse is slated to begin at 1:58 pm on Monday April 8, 2024 and since Sikeston is in the path of totality the town will be a hot spot for visitors.
Sikeston Department of Public Safety is increasing patrol for the April 8th solar eclipse.
“We’re still going to have all of our regular officers working but we will make accommodations to staff the city to have extra patrol in the higher traffic areas.” Says Seargent Tyler Rowe with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
Rowe says citizens should be prepared for heavy traffic and long wait times the day of the eclipse as they expect a big increase from out-of-town visitors.
“Allow for more time to get there understand maybe restaurants may have longer times and people that aren’t really familiar with the area so you might have drivers that might get confused just the influx in the city is going to cause congestion in places we normally don’t see.”
Sikeston will host four different areas to see the eclipse, locations include the sikeston complex park, rodeo grounds, legion park and three rivers college-sikeston campus parking lot. Rowe says parking will be limited so plan ahead and have patience.
“Modot is also asking that during the eclipse people not park on the sides of the roads. We have several roads in this city that have no parking on them so we just ask every citizen and everyone coming to visit to still follow all traffic laws and not create anymore hazards then what we can anticipate.”
