Feb 5, 2008 8:24 pm US/Central
Caucus-Goers Cause Traffic Jams In Metro
(WCCO)
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MnDOT said traffic was heavier than normal in some areas, but spokespeople from both the Republican and DFL party said they haven't heard of any complaints because of traffic.
MnDOT
Traffic is jammed across the metro area as people head to both the Republican and Democratic caucuses Tuesday night.
MnDOT said traffic was heavier than normal in some areas, but spokespeople from both the Republican and DFL party said they haven't heard of any complaints because of traffic.
A DFL spokesperson said they are seeing historic turnout across the state in tonight's DFL caucus. They are urging everyone to be patient and to get in line by 8 p.m. so their votes can be counted.
Republican Party spokesman Mark Drake says turnout is really heavy throughout the state. He said it's unprecedented, and standing room only in some places. He's heard of a few reports of traffic problems.
Dana McKenzie tried to go to the Democratic caucuses at Apple Valley High School Tuesday night. She said it normally takes 5-6 minutes to get to the school from her house, but after 25 minutes she still hadn't gotten anywhere near it.
She tried a couple of different routes to get to the school, and estimated more than 1,000 cars were trying to make their way toward the school.
McKenzie ended up giving up, but on her way back home, she drove by Falcon Heights Middle School, where the Republican caucuses are being held. She said traffic was backed up there as well. At that location, people were parking in church parking lots across the street and were crossing Johnny Cake Ridge Road not in intersections.
A spokesperson with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office said all of the high schools in the county where there are caucus sites have traffic issues around them.
Edina Police are also reporting traffic backups due to caucuses. They say many people are trying to get into small areas.
Eden Prairie Police said they are having traffic problems but there are many events going on at the high school including hockey, basketball, cheerleading, student council and the caucuses.
Police said they don't know how much of the traffic is for the caucuses. All the parking lots are full; they are directing people to side streets or encouraging people to get dropped off. Reserve officers are helping out to direct traffic.WCCO-TV photojournalist Carly Danek went to Lakeville South High School where the Democratic caucuses were taking place.
The parking lot was nearly full when she arrived, and she estimated about 500 cars were there. She said the line to register was incredibly long, going for about 100 feet, doubling back and then curving all the way through the school's cafeteria.
"I don't think they were planning on the amount (of people," she said, adding it seemed a bit unorganized.
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