Crash and vehicle fire snarl nj morning commute with major delays across highways

Crash and vehicle fire snarl NJ morning commute with major delays across highways

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1 min read
August 6, 2025

Newark, NJ – New Jersey commuters faced a rough start Tuesday morning as crashes, a vehicle fire, and heavy congestion created delays across several key roadways during peak travel hours.

A crash on US 9 southbound in South Amboy just north of NJ 35 around 8:40 a.m. closed one of two lanes, slowing traffic significantly through the area. Meanwhile, a separate crash on I-287 southbound near Exit 44 for US 202 in Boonton led to the closure of the right shoulder shortly after 8:35 a.m.

Just minutes earlier, at around 8:33 a.m., a vehicle fire broke out on I-280 eastbound at Exit 11 for Freeway Drive East/West in Orange, forcing the closure of the ramp lane and right shoulder, contributing to heavy backups in the area.

On the Garden State Parkway, a crash on the northbound side just past Exit 142 for I-78 in Irvington Township was still blocking the left lane as of 7:58 a.m. Further north, volume-related congestion was reported from north of Exit 144 in Newark to just past the Essex Toll Plaza in Bloomfield, causing a five-mile delay despite all lanes remaining open.

The George Washington Bridge also saw heavy volume on both levels. As of 8:26 a.m., delays were reported on the lower level eastbound from the New Jersey side in Fort Lee, with a 20-minute travel time on I-95 from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge. The upper level eastbound also saw delays with a 25-minute travel time over the same stretch. Westbound traffic from the New York side was slow as well, with 15-minute delays on both the upper and lower levels along the Cross Bronx Expressway from Jerome Avenue to I-95 at I-80.

Additional delays were also noted on the New Jersey Turnpike – Hudson County Extension eastbound near Interchange 14 (I-78) in Newark. Although all lanes were open, volume continued to cause slowdowns as of 8:23 a.m.

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Key Points

  • Crashes on US 9, I-287, and the Garden State Parkway disrupted traffic during peak hours
  • A vehicle fire on I-280 added to widespread delays across Essex County
  • Delays also hit the George Washington Bridge and NJ Turnpike due to volume
Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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