NEWARK, NJ – A string of early morning crashes and traffic disruptions slowed commuters across northern New Jersey on Wednesday, with major delays reported on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and key Hudson River crossings.
Traffic conditions began worsening before sunrise and continued into the morning rush, with multiple incidents leading to lane closures and long backups on several of the state’s busiest routes.
As of 8:15 a.m., motorists faced significant congestion heading toward New York City and through major commuter corridors in Essex, Bergen, and Hudson counties.
Key Points
- Crash shuts down lanes on NJ Turnpike Hudson County Extension in Newark
- Utility pole down closes NJ 17 north in Paramus; delays on Parkway and Turnpike
- 45-minute delays reported at the George Washington Bridge and 30 minutes at Lincoln Tunnel
Major crashes and closures
A crash on the New Jersey Turnpike’s Hudson County Extension eastbound near the Newark Bay Bridge brought traffic to a standstill early Wednesday, blocking all lanes for more than an hour. Meanwhile, another crash on the Garden State Parkway northbound near Exit 171 in Woodcliff Lake briefly slowed traffic, though all lanes later reopened.
Farther north, a downed utility pole shut all lanes of NJ 17 northbound in Paramus near Glen Avenue just after 8 a.m., forcing drivers to divert through local streets.
Commuters face heavy bridge and tunnel delays
The George Washington Bridge saw 45-minute delays on both the upper and lower levels, with slowdowns stretching along I-95 from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge. The Lincoln Tunnel also experienced congestion, with 30-minute waits through both the center and south tunnels eastbound from the Turnpike Exit 16E to Midtown Manhattan.
Parkway and Turnpike backups persist
Southbound Garden State Parkway traffic slowed for two miles between Bloomfield and East Orange, while northbound drivers encountered a six-mile delay between Woodbridge and Kenilworth. Turnpike traffic on the Eastern Spur northbound remained heavy in Secaucus due to residual delays from an earlier crash on Route 495 east.
Additional slowdowns and local issues
Smaller delays were reported on I-280 westbound in Newark, US 206 southbound in Mount Olive, and NJ 3 eastbound near Harmon Cove in Secaucus. A water main break on NJ 124 eastbound in Union Township closed one lane early Wednesday, adding to the morning disruptions.
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, parking at Terminal 4’s Blue Lot was 97 percent full by early afternoon, with travelers advised to allow extra time for airport access and parking availability.