JEFFERSON CITY, MO – After consultation with members of the entire executive cabinet, the Office of Administration today announced that non-essential executive department state offices in Cole County will be closed on August 21 for the solar eclipse.
“According to reports from the Department of Public Safety, MoDOT and local law enforcement partners, the kind of congestion expected for this event can create safety and security risks for the public,” said Office of Administration Commissioner Sarah Steelman. “We believe closing non-essential state offices for this historic event is in the best interest of our state employees and the thousands of people expected to visit Cole County the day of the eclipse.”
Jefferson City is considered one of the best places in the state, if not the country, for viewing the total solar eclipse, and has been chosen by NASA TV as one of seven locations across the United States from which to broadcast the event live. It is estimated that there will be an influx of 40-50k visitors in Jefferson City the day of the eclipse, and that number could fluctuate significantly depending upon weather conditions across the state. A large number of these visitors will be concentrated at or around the Capitol Complex in downtown Jefferson City, which will create substantial congestion in area traffic and a strain on downtown parking.
For more information, including transportation, viewing safety and solar eclipse events, visit mo.gov/eclipse.