Crashes and construction snarl New Jersey morning commute with multiple delays across major highways
Newark, NJ — Commuters across New Jersey faced a frustrating Tuesday morning drive as a series of crashes, construction slowdowns, and debris spills clogged up key roadways including the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, and US 22, creating miles of delays and blocked lanes during peak travel hours.
A crash on the Garden State Parkway northbound just south of Exit 137 in Cranford Township blocked the center lane around 7:27 a.m., intensifying congestion already stretching four miles from Exit 135 in Clark Township to Exit 138 in Kenilworth.
Meanwhile, a crash and debris spill on the outer roadway of the New Jersey Turnpike southbound near Interchange 7 in Mansfield Township blocked multiple left lanes, compounding delays along the southern corridor of the Turnpike system.
Unanticipated construction on US 22 eastbound west of the Parkway in Union Township closed one of two lanes starting at 7:11 a.m., catching drivers off guard and contributing to heavy backups during the morning rush.
In Chatham, an overturned tractor trailer on NJ 24 westbound near Exit 7 partially shut down the right lane as of 5:13 a.m., and although crews were on scene, residual delays continued into the morning hours.
Other notable incidents included a crash on US 46 westbound near NJ 23 in Wayne Township closing a right lane, and delays piling up on the Turnpike’s express lanes northbound approaching the George Washington Bridge, with travel times up to 30 minutes from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge.
While all lanes remained open on I-280 and I-295, volume-related delays were reported throughout East Orange, Newark, Piscataway, and Bordentown.
The exclusive bus lane on NJ 495 also saw backups stretching from North Bergen to Union City, despite no reported closures.
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Key Points
- Major delays reported on the Garden State Parkway, Turnpike, and US 22 due to crashes and construction
- Overturned tractor trailer and debris spill further slowed traffic in Chatham and Mansfield Township
- Delays across I-280, I-287, I-295, and GWB corridors added to regional congestion during peak commute
New Jersey drivers hit a wall of traffic this morning as accidents and lane closures turned rush hour into a crawl.
