After weeks of anticipation, solar eclipse day has finally arrived.
With the best view to be along the Lake Erie shoreline, Port Stanley is ready for the hundreds of visitors that are expected to descend on the beach village on Monday. Those making their way into the town can stop at the Port Stanley Visitor Centre at 199 Carlow Road, where eclipse viewers will be handed out starting at 9:30 a.m. until supplies run out. The centre will also be doling out maps of the town and other tourist information.
To keep traffic flowing safely during the celestial event a number of closures will be in effect from noon until 6 p.m. They are as follows:
Sparta Line will be closed to northbound traffic.
Warren Street will be closed.
East Street will be closed in order to serve as an emergency vehicle route.
The Lift Bridge will be down to accommodate traffic
Traffic on the west side of the village will be required to exit using Carlow Road to Union Road, while traffic on the east side will have to exit using Sunset Drive.
Elgin OPP will be on hand to monitor the traffic flow. Drivers are also being reminded not to park on the side of the road to watch the eclipse. An interactive parking map can be found here.
"Please be patient and prepared in the event of traffic delays and potentially long idling times," the Municipality of Central Elgin urged in a statement.
Washrooms for visitors will be available at the Visitor Centre and Beach Patrol will open additional portable washrooms.
With weather conditions cooler by Lake Erie and expected to drop even further during the eclipse, those viewing by the water are advised to bundle up.
Other Lake Erie communities anticipating an influx of visitors include Port Bruce, Port Burwell, and Port Glasgow.
Skygazers are reminded never to look directly at the sun without proper protective eyewear. Failure to do so can result in serious eye damage.
For people who can't make the trip to Port Stanley, the London Public Library will be livestreaming the solar eclipse on a big screen at Central Library in downtown London starting at 1 p.m.
A total solar eclipse has not been seen in Canada since February 1979. The eclipse will begin around 2 p.m. and peak at approximately 3:17 p.m.