Two of Erie’s busiest public buildings will not go totally dark during the total solar eclipse on April 8. But they will host far less activity than usual.
Court will not be in session that day at the Erie County Courthouse, though the building will be open to the public.
And across from the courthouse on Perry Square, City Hall will not be open to the public, though employees deemed to be “essential” will be required to work at the building.
An effort to avoid congestion on Erie’s big day
Officials at the courthouse and City Hall made the plans public on Thursday.
They said the heavy traffic expected in Erie for the eclipse will likely make getting around the city difficult.
And at the courthouse, the court administrator said police officers and other law enforcement officials who might have been scheduled to testify in court on April 8 — a Monday — will now be free to help handle any influx of tourists that day.
With no court in session on April 8, those involved in the court system will not have to travel to the courthouse, at West Sixth and Peach streets, and “navigate the anticipated problems that day,” said the district court administrator, Bob Catalde.