2018 Exodus / Traffic, stories

[Canoe]

• I-80 Westbound snafu at Truckee continues and is backed up to the Truckee scales,
• with a two car collision now in the centre ditch just before the 267|89N|I-80 exchange.
• Westbound from Truckee there are increasing patches of congested and heavily congested traffic, with slowdowns, some severe, but still good flow overall, all the way to Yuba Pass.
• Regular congested slowdowns recurring between Baxter and Gold Run.
• Various minor no injury collisions occurring on I-80 Westbound from Truckee down to Auburn.
• Sill lots of vehicles reported stopped on the shoulder, some waiting for a tow.
• South on 50 from Lake Tahoe continues to be congested and slow.

BMT reporting one to two hours to pavement, slow into Gerlach, 25 mph on 447 down to Nixon.

Traffic cams were showing I-80 traffic into Reno was sparse to light, but now is starting to show somewhat of an increase, usually light sometimes towards moderate, becoming light as it splits between stopping in Reno, or heading West, North or South.

[Canoe]

Updated chart.
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BM 2018 Exodus - to Monday mid.png

[Canoe]

• I-80 Westbound snafu at Truckee continues to be congested with both interchanges a problem, and is sometimes backed up to the Truckee scales.
• Westbound from Truckee continues to have many patches of congested and heavily congested traffic, with slowdowns, some severe, with some clear stretches, all the way beyond Yuba Pass to Gold Run. (then light to moderate into Sacramento!)
• Map and traffic cams show that the length of the congestion coming North from Lake Tahoe to Truckee has seriously decreased. Perhaps soon we'll see a reduction in traffic influx onto I-80. That could resume at any time, depending on when people are choosing to leave the Lake Tahoe area...
• Extremely sparse traffic from Nevada on I-80 Westbound.
• South on 50 from Lake Tahoe continues to be congested and slow.

Gerlach web cam showing some traffic. Throughout Exodus, what I've seen in the background on the stretch from Gerlach to Empire has always been well spaced out, usually sparse to light, sometimes moderate. On camera, I've seen none of the one vehicle spacing or near bumper-to-bumper that Exodus of years past used to get. Someone there on the ground will have a much better idea if the bits I've seen on the web cam reflects the reality this year.

Traffic cams of I-80 Westbound traffic into Reno showing as sparse to light, with an occasional patch of moderate moving through. The live video traffic cams on http://www.nvroads.com/511-home is amazing!

[Canoe]

• I-80 Westbound congestion snafu at Truckee let up as the influx coming North from Lake Tahoe let up. Traffic cams show traffic is light to moderate and flowing well through there now.
  Congestion could resume at any time, depending on when people are choosing to leave the Lake Tahoe area...
• Westbound from Truckee continues to have many patches of congested and heavily congested traffic, with slowdowns, some severe, some stopped, with some clear stretches, out to Yuba Pass.
• The stretch of I-80 leading to Gold Run continues to have recurring congestion with slowdowns. Traffic cams show heavy congestion in places.
• It clears up past Gold Run, map and cams showing light to moderate into Sacramento.
• Traffic cams show sparse to light traffic from Reno heading out Westbound on I-80.
• South on 50 from Lake Tahoe cleared out, but there's a hazard report "[2] HAS MOVED CREATING LARGE GAP IN RDWY" which means? Traffic cams show light traffic.

East bound on left, Westbound on right.

hwy80atcastlepeak.jpg

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BMT still reporting one to two hours. updated to two to three hours.

A quick peak at the Gerlach web cams doesn't show any congestion in Gerlach nor the road to Empire.

Traffic cams stills & video in Reno are down. The one just outside of Reno at Mustang shows traffic going to Reno is sparse to light.

Heading East from Fernley showing clear all the way to Salt Lake City.

[Canoe]

BMT says exit times now three to four hours. There was/is a delay due to clearing a vehicle from 447.

• I-80 Westbound in CA, still patches of congestion, delays, from Donner Lake through to Yuba Pass.
  Really bad in some spots, some bumper-to-bumper seen on traffic cams, with some reports of traffic standing still, clear in others. YRMV
• Again congestion, heavy congestion & slowdowns around Gold Run, from Forebay through Secret Town.
• Then largely light to Sacramento, as seen on cams.
• Cams show very light I-80 traffic coming in from Nevada.

Cams show steady light traffic with good flow coming North from Lake Tahoe.
Same South on 50 from the lake for those who like taking the Southern route to CA.

Traffic cams in Reno are down.
Traffic cam at Mustang on I-80 East of Reno shows light to moderate Westbound traffic into Reno, moving at speed.

[Token]

Placer Fire reporting aggressive new fire just south of Emigrant Gap.

Might be worth keeping an eye on.

#NorthFire Is the hashtag.

6 tankers and 2 VLATs on non-divert.

[Canoe]

The spot of that was an CHP incident earlier, but the tag was removed without details.
A Waze alert indicated fire seen from the road.

AND, now there's a Fire symbol showing on quickmap.dog.ca.gov, South-East of Emigrant Gap.

North Fire CAL FIRE is assisting the Tahoe National Forest with a fire off North Fork Campground, south of Emigrant Gap (Placer County)

And a new tag on I-80 just West of Yuba Pass:
FIRE GETTING CLOSE TO I80
INQ IF IT NEEDS TO BE CLOSED

[Canoe]

I80 E / Yuba Gap Ofr
Sep 3 2018 4:59PM [10] 70-L REQ UNIT CLOSE WITH CONES FOR NOW // THEN NOTIFY CT FOR HARD CLOSURE AT RAMP FOR EXTENDED PERIOD
Sep 3 2018 4:57PM [8] [Notification] [CHP]-CLARIFICATION - CLOSURE NEEDED TO KEEP TRAFFIC FROM ENTERING CRYSTAL LAKE RD AND LAKE VALLEY RD
Sep 3 2018 4:55PM [7] [Notification] [CHP]-PCSO ASKING THAT EXIT TO LAKE VALLEY RD X CRYSTAL LAKE RD (YUBA GAP) BE CLOSED SO THAT TRAFFIC CAN NOT GET IN FROM THERE -PCSO IS ALSO ENRT TO ASSIST WITH CLOSURE
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [4] [Notification] [CHP]-Problem changed from INFO-Information to FIRE-Report of Fire by CHP
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [3] INQ IF IT NEEDS TO BE CLOSED
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [2] FIRE GETTING CLOSE TO I80

[Canoe]

BMT says exit times now three to four hours. There was/is a delay due to clearing a vehicle from 447.

NHP has asked for a short closure of 447 SB while they deal with the vehicles from the earlier incident in Nixon. Pulsing is holding and will result at approximately 5:30pm, Thanks makes the current wait time almost 5 hours.

(next year, those looking on when to leave to catch a flight can see how easily getting to Reno on time can get delayed...)

Quickmap is showing the I-80 Westbound into Reno as SLOW. The live traffic cam at Mustang just East of there shows light traffic moving at speed.
Traffic cameras in Reno are still down.

[Canoe]

I80 E / Yuba Gap Ofr
Sep 3 2018 4:59PM [10] 70-L REQ UNIT CLOSE WITH CONES FOR NOW // THEN NOTIFY CT FOR HARD CLOSURE AT RAMP FOR EXTENDED PERIOD
Sep 3 2018 4:57PM [8] [Notification] [CHP]-CLARIFICATION - CLOSURE NEEDED TO KEEP TRAFFIC FROM ENTERING CRYSTAL LAKE RD AND LAKE VALLEY RD
Sep 3 2018 4:55PM [7] [Notification] [CHP]-PCSO ASKING THAT EXIT TO LAKE VALLEY RD X CRYSTAL LAKE RD (YUBA GAP) BE CLOSED SO THAT TRAFFIC CAN NOT GET IN FROM THERE -PCSO IS ALSO ENRT TO ASSIST WITH CLOSURE
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [4] [Notification] [CHP]-Problem changed from INFO-Information to FIRE-Report of Fire by CHP
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [3] INQ IF IT NEEDS TO BE CLOSED
Sep 3 2018 4:46PM [2] FIRE GETTING CLOSE TO I80

updated

Sep 3 2018 5:03PM [44] [Appended, 17:14:13] [14] 80-R1 ESCORTING TRUCKEE FIRE WB IN CD JWO SODA
Sep 3 2018 5:00PM [27] VA-H20 FIRE BURNING UPHILL TWDS TWIN LAKES // NEG CLOSURE FOR 80 // WILL BE ITA TO ADV
Sep 3 2018 4:59PM [40] [Appended, 17:14:13] [10] 70-L REQ UNIT CLOSE WITH CONES FOR NOW // THEN NOTIFY CT FOR HARD CLOSURE AT RAMP FOR EXTENDED PERIOD
Sep 3 2018 4:57PM [38] [Appended, 17:14:13] [8] [Notification] [CHP]-CLARIFICATION - CLOSURE NEEDED TO KEEP TRAFFIC FROM ENTERING CRYSTAL LAKE RD AND LAKE VALLEY RD
Sep 3 2018 4:56PM [26] VA-H20 FIRE NOT QUITE CLOSE ENOUGH FOR FRWY CLOSER // WILL KEEP EYE AND ADV
Sep 3 2018 4:55PM [37] [Appended, 17:14:13] [7] [Notification] [CHP]-PCSO ASKING THAT EXIT TO LAKE VALLEY RD X CRYSTAL LAKE RD (YUBA GAP) BE CLOSED SO THAT TRAFFIC CAN NOT GET IN FROM THERE -PCSO IS ALSO ENRT TO ASSIST WITH CLOSURE
Sep 3 2018 4:52PM [22] [Notification] [CHP]-ADDTL CALLER ADVING FIRE GETTING CLOSE I80 AT BLUE CANYON
Sep 3 2018 4:48PM [23] [Appended, 16:53:10] [1] FIRE CLOSE TO 80

[Canoe]

Getting multiple reports of Stand Still Traffic on I-80 Westbound from East of Soda Springs to Yuba Pass.

Also 'police escorting fire truck on left shoulder', 'big wildfire', 'wildfire smoke ahead'

[Canoe]

https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE
Firefighters are battling a 200 acre fire off North Fork Campground, south of Emigrant Gap (Placer County)

https://twitter.com/PlacerSheriff
Please avoid the area of Emigrant Gap. Very heavy traffic on Interstate 80. Travel in the area is not recommended. Campgrounds are being evacuated.
North Fork Campground, Onion Valley Campground and Tunnel Mills Campground on Texas Hill Road in Emigrant Gap are being evacuated.
Deputies are en route to a fire at the North Ford campground in Emigrant Gap to assist.

[Canoe]

And now there's a grass fire reported near Cisco Grove, along side all the traffic tied up on I-80.
And that notice has been removed...?

Traffic cams show the traffic between Soda Springs and Troy has cleared on. No longer sitting/crawling there.
And on the other side of the pass they show light good flow down into Gold Run.

and back again

Sep 3 2018 6:31PM [15] 1039 CAL FIRE // THEY ARE AWARE // REKINDLE FROM EARLIER
Sep 3 2018 6:29PM [7] B70-004 VISUAL ON SMOKE NEAR RAINBOW LODGE
Sep 3 2018 6:28PM [12] [Appended, 18:29:53] [5] XFER TO CAL FIRE
Sep 3 2018 6:28PM [11] [Appended, 18:29:53] [4] SMALL FIRE
Sep 3 2018 6:27PM [4] ADDTL SECOND FIRE REPORTED NR RAINBOW LODGE

[Canoe]

Latest from BMT says three to four hour wait time.

Reno traffic cams still down.
Mustang on I-80 East of Reno shows light traffic moving at speed.

Cams show I-80 Westbound in CA varies from light to moderate traffic from Folston to Truckee, to Donner Lake to Troy.
Maps show delays between Troy and Emigrant Gap, North of the 200 acre fire.
Then cams & map shows light traffic down past Gold Run, Colfax, Auburn, etc., until #65 just past Rocklin.
Congestion and slowdowns by Rosefille, then it opens up again.
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BM 2018 Exodus to Monday eve.png

[Canoe]

Update on fire by Emigrant Gap on I-80 in California.

Sep 3 2018 7:53PM [87] PER AIR OPS, LAST VISUAL OF FIRE IT WAS WELL AWAY FROM 80 AND WINDS BLOWING FIRE AWAY FROM 80.
Sep 3 2018 7:52PM [86] 1039 AIR OPS // THEY WILL ADV PILOTS // UNSURE IF ABLE // CANNOT FLY AT NIGHT
Sep 3 2018 7:49PM [85] 70-L REQ TO KNOW HOW CLOSE FIRE IS TO 80 NOW
Sep 3 2018 7:49PM [84] 70-L REQ H20 OR A23 CONDUCT FLY OVER OF THE FIRE // THERE DISCREPENCY ABOUT IT'S MOVEMENT

Traffic cams on I-80 Westbound show light traffic with an occasional moderate patch, from Reno through to Sacramento.

Reno traffic cams are back up, showing sparse to light traffic Westbound into Reno.

BMT says it's a three hour wait time.
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BM 2018 Exodus - into Monday night.png

[Canoe]

We can't see 447, but all other roads look good.

Traffic cams are back in Reno. All cams showing sparse to light traffic, with an occasional patch of moderate traffic but still at speed, Fernley Westbound I-80 all the way to Sacramento.

BMT put the exit time from three hours down to two, and then down to one.

[Canoe]

Everything the same from the maps and traffic cams.

BMT says Exit time an hour or less.
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BM 2018 Exodus - end Monday.png

[Canoe]

Everything looking good.
Last time BMT gave the wait time instead of friendly advice it was "under an hour".
chart

BM 2018 Exodus - to Tues morning.png

[maladroit]

Left camp 1PM Monday, arrived at home in Oakland at midnight. Camp to pavement was about 2 hours, pavement to Fernley was about 3 hours.

Usually budget 10 hours considering backups and refuel/rest breaks, so it wasn't unexpectedly slow.

[Canoe]

For those looking back and planning their Exodus,
Today BMT reported a vehicle fire on 447, then a wildfire along 447. NDOT shut 447, a pilot car was taking groups through on the one open lane until a shift of wind shut that down. Once brought under control, the highway was opened and an eight mile long backlog of Southbound traffic started to clear through. It was three or four hours of shutdown then clearing then 447 back to two lanes. So if you're thinking of tight timing it to catch a plane... the time required to get to Reno can suddenly expand for many reasons, this is but one.
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Last chart, if nothing dramatic happens.

BM 2018 Exodus Times.png

[maladroit]

We stopped at the Pilot in Fernley, and ate cheeseburgers with fries and a small chocolate frosty. A burner in a pickup truck and trailer rolled past, and I made exaggerated fry-dunking motions. He nodded and appeared to pull over to the Wendy's. I hope he took the advice, that was heavenly.

[unjonharley]

Rolled out non stop .. Home in eleven hours .. 479 miles ..Trailer axel 650 lb. (limit 1000 lb.) .. Tongue 65 lb. .. (limit 100 ib.) ..

[bradtem]

Looking at those charts, I remain confused at how Exodus can vary as much as it does year to year. In fact, it is so surprising that I have to wonder if the data reported by BMIR that goes into these charts is that accurate. How can some years have long periods with waits up to 7 hours, and other years never get to 2 hours? What would cause people to redistribute their departures for good balance some years and bunch up to cause a nightmare in others? Does it correlate with burns being early or late? With what day of the month the burn falls on? The moon?

[Canoe]

• Firstly, the "time" reported (when their hourly report includes a time) doesn't report the same thing.
  • Sometimes it is the time spent waiting/advancing in the pulsing lanes before being let onto the pavement of CR34.
  • Other times it is the time you'll spend driving from Gate until you're on the pavement of CR34 (there may or may not be pulsing/waiting).
  • And occasionally, it can be either of the above, yet may include the time you'll spend inside BRC getting to Gate.
• All I can do is chart what is reported. When you see one year is an ~hour different from another, they may represent the same real time of getting from Gate until on pavement.
• Based on non-BRC traffic use of Hwy 447, police or NDOT may request that BRC reduce the release of vehicles onto CR 34. Or halt it entirely. As was done this year on the Tuesday when there was a vehicle/wildfire beside 447. If this occurs when there's a lot of vehicles doing their exit, then the times will spike.
• As such, the charts are useful as a general indicator of when Exodus traffic is heavy or light, so one can better plan when to leave.
• It is also useful to illustrate to virgins planning when to leave (need to get back for work, school, or to catch a flight...), just how easily a simple event can impact the time it will take to:
  • get out of BRC and onto the highway, and
  • get down 447 to I-80 for your journey onward.
• For example, looking at the 2016 exit time you see it increasing on Sunday, only there's a gap then a nine hour time reported a few hours later. Exiting BRC was closed until a missing minor was found. If you were tight-timing catching a flight, you could have missed your flight. Other years, rain in BRC or flowing onto the edge of the playa halted vehicles being able to move on the playa until the playa surface soil was dry enough for vehicles to move without their wheel wells being jammed up to a halt with mud. Arrival this year was hugely affected by winds (and people speeding on the playa), resulting in whiteout conditions. Gate even had to be shutdown for a while.
• It's useful looking for the threads on Arrival and Exodus in prior years for when the time from hitting pavement until reaching Wadsworth is included, and to get an idea of how many different things can hugely impact traffic.
  Before they came up with the pulsing, Exodus and the drive on CR 34 and Hwy 447 could be astoundingly long, and with a significantly lower BRC population.

[Token]

Bradtem, your question is a superb topic for one of them late night burn barrel conversations.

It is a great example of practical discussion of Chaos Theory.

A wide range of variables expressed as a real seat of the pants experience in a wildly dynamic and unpredictable system.

Hat tip to the pulsing team for getting a leg up on this super cool situation.

This far, with my armchair quarterbacking...

Here are the big influencers outside the scope of the chaos herd:

Lost child - amber alert.
Whiteout.
Rain.
Wildfire.
Accident on 447.

Any of those has closed gate before and will close it again.

Other big disrupters are extremes of heat or cold, but those tend to be once every 10 or dozen years.

[Ratty]

Tuesday 10 am no delays. Last year there was an accident on the hwy. We sat in the dust for a couple of hours.

[danibel]

Started packing camp at 9am Tuesday the 4th. Finished at 2pm and departed camp at 3:45 & C. Hit the pavement at 2:50pm. Stopped just south of Gerlach for a road closure due to fire 8 miles south of Empire. Pulsed a few times then open road. Landed at the Peppermill in Reno at 6:07pm. Four hours from camp to hotel was fabboush in my book. Drove straight home to the bay area Wednesday from Reno, one small slow down on 80 near emigrant gap. Home by 2:30pm.

[bradtem]

Yes, I understand those factors. Been in the line too many times. Of course, what people care about is the total time in stop-and-go/pulsed. While there can be slow going through Gerlach or Empire or other segments, my general experience is that it's always the "City to blacktop" time which you think of as your exodus wait. And that if you leave at the peak times, that's often in the range of 7 hours. Which is unbearable, so you try to find other times. For many years, Monday before 7am was excellent but at times even that has faced 3-4 hours.

This sadly means that even with these great charts, you can't really predict a few days in advance when to leave. There are some better times (though most of them are in the dark and more dangerous with sleepy people) but almost any time might end up being much longer than expected, even if on the whole it's a smarter choice.

[Ratty]

Does anyone know why the rest stops were closed? I shudder to think it was because the burners are so messy. Rest stops are NOT a trash dump.

[bradtem]

I read a newspaper story that burner trash dumping is a continuing problem. That the official dump stations sometimes get long lines and have high prices, and suddenly everybody thinks, "Oh nobody will notice if I drop my trash in that dumpster there" or even in private resident's trash cans. The story reported some residents know to not put their garbage out until just before pickup if they have pickup the day after labour day. And nobody would notice, if you were the only one who had that thought.