NEWARK, N.J. — Thursday morning commuters across New Jersey faced heavy congestion at major Hudson River crossings and multiple crashes on key highways, slowing traffic from South Jersey to North Jersey during the peak rush hour period.
The most significant delays developed approaching the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, and George Washington Bridge, where travel times climbed as high as 60 minutes heading into New York City.
Meanwhile, crashes on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 21 added to backups throughout the morning.
Parkway Crash Reported in Cranford
As of 8:42 a.m., emergency crews responded to a crash on the Garden State Parkway southbound south of Exit 136 near Stiles Street in Cranford Township.
Officials said all lanes remained open to traffic despite the incident, though motorists experienced slowdowns in the area.
Earlier in the morning, a crash on Route 21 northbound in Newark caused delays between Passaic Street and Miller Street. By 7 a.m., all lanes had reopened.
On the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur northbound, a separate crash north of Interchange 15W near I-280 in Kearny blocked the left lane as of 8:28 a.m.
Major Delays at Lincoln and Holland Tunnels
Hudson River crossings saw some of the heaviest congestion statewide Thursday morning.
At the Holland Tunnel south tube eastbound, travel times reached 35 minutes from New Jersey Turnpike Exit 14C and 30 minutes from Route 139 at Tonnelle Circle as of 8:36 a.m.
The Lincoln Tunnel experienced even longer backups.
Both the center tube and south tube eastbound reported approximately 45-minute travel times from Turnpike Exit 16E into Manhattan by around 8:30 a.m.
Officials said all tunnel lanes remained open despite the delays.
Key Points
• Crash reported on Garden State Parkway southbound near Exit 136 in Cranford
• Lincoln Tunnel delays climbed to 45 minutes Thursday morning
• George Washington Bridge upper level delays reached 60 minutes inbound to New York
George Washington Bridge Traffic Builds
Traffic approaching the George Washington Bridge also intensified during the morning rush.
As of 8:31 a.m., drivers using the lower level eastbound faced approximately 45 minutes of delays on I-95 from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge.
Upper level delays stretched even longer, reaching about 60 minutes.
Truck restrictions remained in effect overnight and into Thursday morning on the lower level eastbound crossing.
Commercial vehicles traveling from Route 46, Route 4, and I-95 local lanes were directed to use Exit 73 and remain left while accessing alternate routes.
South Jersey Drivers Face Slowdowns on I-295 and Route 42
In South Jersey, commuters encountered delays on I-295 northbound between Bellmawr and Cherry Hill Township.
Traffic slowed between Exit 26N near I-76/I-676 and Exit 32 at Haddonfield-Berlin Road beginning around 8:03 a.m.
Officials also reported delays on Route 42 northbound during the morning commute, though details on the extent of the congestion were still developing.
Morning Congestion Continues Across Major Corridors
Thursday’s traffic pattern reflected the typical combination of commuter volume, crashes, and bottlenecks at key New York-bound crossings.
Transportation officials urged motorists to allow extra travel time, especially for trips into Manhattan and through Hudson County.
Drivers were also advised to monitor changing traffic conditions throughout the morning as emergency crews continued responding to incidents on major highways.
