NEWARK, NJ – Evening commuters faced gridlock across several major highways Wednesday as crashes and heavy volume triggered delays on key New Jersey routes.
A crash on the New Jersey Turnpike exit ramp to I-278 and Routes 1 and 9 from Interchange 13 in Elizabeth blocked one right lane and shoulder, slowing southbound traffic through the corridor.
Elsewhere, police in East Windsor closed the exit ramp from Interchange 8 to NJ-33 for an outside agency operation, with the closure expected to remain in place until 8 p.m.
Turnpike and Parkway congestion deepens through early evening
Southbound drivers on the Turnpike saw additional backups from Interchange 14 to Interchange 8A, with travel times reaching over 30 minutes in some stretches. Farther south, drivers from Interchange 8A to Interchange 6 were facing 20-minute runs, while heavy volume from Interchange 6 to Interchange 1 stretched commute times to nearly 45 minutes.
The Garden State Parkway northbound was especially congested, with a 12-mile delay between Union Township and Clifton due to rush-hour traffic. All lanes remained open but speeds dropped sharply.
Central Jersey roads hit by slowdowns on NJ 18 and I-287
In Middlesex County, delays on NJ-18 southbound extended from NJ-27 in New Brunswick to Edgeboro Road in East Brunswick, with no lane closures but steady backups. I-287 also slowed in both directions, particularly between Piscataway and Edison, where southbound drivers encountered stop-and-go traffic near Exit 7.
Further north, congestion on NJ-24 eastbound and NJ-17 in Paramus added to the evening slowdown, while NJ-4 westbound saw delays from Teaneck to NJ-17.
Commuters urged to plan alternate routes
Transportation officials advised motorists to allow extra time or consider alternate roads, with volume expected to remain heavy through the early evening. Despite the widespread congestion, no major injuries were reported from any of the incidents.
Rush hour drivers across New Jersey were left crawling toward home as the state’s highways turned into parking lots once again.