Heavy delays hit NJ highways as crashes snarl morning rush
Drivers across New Jersey faced slowdowns, lane closures, and weather-related disruptions during the Monday morning commute, with multiple incidents reported on key turnpike and bridge routes.
NEWARK, NJ – Morning commuters encountered widespread congestion across major New Jersey highways Monday as crashes, disabled vehicles, and weather-related issues combined to create one of the slowest starts of the week. From the Turnpike to Route 17, travel times stretched well beyond normal, leaving drivers backed up across North and Central Jersey.
The New Jersey Turnpike was among the hardest-hit corridors, with multiple incidents affecting both northbound and southbound lanes. A crash just south of Interchange 8 in East Windsor Township slowed inner roadway traffic around 8:40 a.m., though all lanes remained open as responders moved a vehicle to the right shoulder. Northbound drivers near Interchange 8 in Cranbury also faced lingering congestion after a disabled tractor-trailer blocked the shoulder earlier in the morning.
Major bridges see extended backups
Cross-Hudson routes saw the worst of the delays as drivers pushed toward New York City. The George Washington Bridge recorded travel times of 45 minutes on the upper level and 30 minutes on the lower level from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge. Both the Lincoln Tunnel’s center and south tubes showed 40-minute eastbound trips from Turnpike Exit 16E, while Holland Tunnel drivers faced 35-minute waits from Exit 14C in Jersey City.
Adding to the mix, weather conditions slowed pedestrian traffic on the Ben Franklin Bridge between Philadelphia and Camden, though all lanes remained open to vehicles. The footwalk experienced a delayed opening due to the conditions.
Turnpike, Parkway, and Route 1 & 9 among busiest corridors
The Turnpike’s Western and Eastern Spurs each showed two-mile northbound delays near Interchange 15W in Newark, caused primarily by heavy volume. On the Garden State Parkway, a crash in Holmdel north of Exit 114 blocked a right lane around 8:28 a.m., briefly tightening traffic in the area. Meanwhile, a collision on the US 1&9 Truck Route near the Passaic River Drawbridge in Newark closed one of two southbound lanes, contributing to backups extending toward Kearny.
Further south, Route 206 in Lawrence Township remained shut down in both directions after a downed utility pole closed all lanes near Eggert Crossing Road. Officials had not yet provided an estimated reopening time by midmorning.
Commuters urged to expect lingering congestion
Elsewhere, moderate delays continued along Route 17 in both directions between Hackensack and Maywood, and along I-78 westbound near Springfield. NJDOT traffic data showed eastbound Route 3 moving slowly from the Turnpike’s Eastern Spur in Secaucus to NJ 495 in North Bergen, while westbound congestion stretched back toward Clifton.
Despite the slowdowns, all major toll routes — including the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway — reported full lane availability by 9 a.m. Commuters were advised to allow extra travel time throughout the morning as congestion gradually eased across the state.
