Newark, NJ – Drivers faced a difficult start to the week as multiple crashes, disabled vehicles, and heavy volume created backups across major New Jersey highways and crossings into New York, transportation officials reported.
The most severe incidents included an overturned tractor-trailer on US 1&9 northbound at I-78 in Newark, closing one of two lanes, and a crash on the Garden State Parkway southbound near Exit 131A in Woodbridge, blocking a lane during peak rush. In Toms River, a disabled vehicle on the Parkway northbound near Exit 81 blocked the right shoulder.
Earlier, a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound near Interchange 4 in Mount Laurel left a vehicle off the roadway, though all lanes remained open.
Volume-related delays were widespread. The Garden State Parkway saw slowdowns of up to four miles in Clark, Cranford, Irvington, and Bloomfield. The New Jersey Turnpike inner and outer roadways northbound had delays up to nine miles between Carteret and Newark.
Cross-Hudson commutes were especially challenging:
- George Washington Bridge delays reached 45–50 minutes on both levels eastbound.
- Lincoln Tunnel delays were about 30 minutes from the Turnpike Exit 16E.
- Holland Tunnel was not listed but typically experiences spillover congestion in similar conditions.
Other slow spots included:
- I-80 eastbound through Roxbury and westbound through Paterson.
- I-295 delays in both directions between Cherry Hill, Bellmawr, and West Deptford.
- I-287 with congestion in both directions between Piscataway, Franklin, and Bridgewater.
- NJ 17 delays in both Paramus and Hackensack.
- NJ 73, US 30, NJ 440, and US 1&9 all reporting pockets of volume.
Despite numerous trouble spots, most lanes remained open, with congestion driven by volume and several active crash scenes.
