Morning commute snarled by crashes, delays and downed tree across new jersey
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 20 - A wide angle view of the New Jersey Turnpike on April 20 2018 in Newark New Jersey.

Morning commute snarled by crashes, delays and downed tree across New Jersey

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1 min read
September 5, 2025

Trenton, N.J. – The Friday morning rush brought a series of slowdowns across New Jersey highways, with crashes, disabled vehicles, and even a downed tree complicating commutes from the Turnpike to Route 29.

As of 8:04 a.m., a tree fell on Route 29 southbound in Delaware Township, north of County Route 519/Kingwood-Stockton Road, closing one of two lanes. Crews are working to clear the roadway.

By 8:25 a.m., a crash on Route 18 northbound in East Brunswick near Old Bridge Turnpike/Edgeboro Road shut one of three lanes, backing up traffic through the area.

On the Turnpike’s Western Spur, a disabled vehicle was reported southbound just south of Interchange 15W near I-280 in Newark at 8:32 a.m. The car is on the right shoulder and all lanes remain open, though backups continue. A related incident south of Interchange 15W in Kearny has caused a 2.5-mile delay as of 8:24 a.m.

Earlier, at 7:12 a.m., a traffic signal malfunction closed the ramp lane on Route 35 northbound at U.S. 1&9 in Woodbridge, forcing drivers to merge and slowing traffic.

Commuters crossing into New York also faced heavy delays. At 8:27 a.m., the George Washington Bridge lower level eastbound reported a 20-minute travel time from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge. On the upper level eastbound, travel time stretched to 25 minutes as of 8:26 a.m.

Officials urge motorists to allow extra travel time and use caution around work crews and disabled vehicles as traffic remains heavy through mid-morning.


Key Points

  • Downed tree blocking lane on Route 29 in Delaware Township.
  • Crashes and disabled vehicles slowing Route 18 and Turnpike Western Spur traffic.
  • George Washington Bridge delays at 20–25 minutes eastbound.

Morning rush in New Jersey is off to a rough start.

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.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

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Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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