TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey’s Wednesday morning commute is getting messy, with crashes closing major highways and rush-hour backups building on the Garden State Parkway, I-287 and Hudson River crossings.
One of the biggest problems was reported at 8:28 a.m. on southbound U.S. Route 130 in North Brunswick, where a crash with injuries closed all lanes north of County Route 695/Old Georges Road, according to 511NJ.
Another full blockage was reported on the New Jersey Turnpike’s Hudson County Extension. A crash west of Interchange 14A near the NJ 440/Bayonne Bridge interchange had all westbound lanes blocked as of 7:47 a.m.
Garden State Parkway Drivers Hit With Two Problems in Sayreville
Drivers heading north through Sayreville were dealing with trouble on two stretches of the Garden State Parkway.
A crash north of Exit 123 at U.S. Route 9 was blocking the right and center lanes of the Parkway’s northbound local lanes as of 8:06 a.m. Less than 20 minutes later, 511NJ reported a disabled vehicle south of the Raritan Toll Plaza blocking the left lane.
Traffic was also backing up elsewhere on the Parkway. A two-mile northbound delay was reported between Exit 148 at John F. Kennedy Drive North and Exit 150 at Hoover Avenue in Bloomfield due to volume.
- All southbound Route 130 lanes were closed in North Brunswick following a crash with injuries.
- All westbound lanes of the Turnpike’s Hudson County Extension were blocked near Interchange 14A.
- A Parkway crash in Sayreville blocked two northbound local lanes near Exit 123.
Drivers farther south were seeing a volume-related slowdown while exiting the Parkway southbound at Exit 130B-A for U.S. Route 1 in Woodbridge.
Where is the most serious Wednesday morning closure?
For drivers in Central Jersey, Route 130 southbound in North Brunswick is a major trouble spot because all lanes were closed following a crash with injuries. The Turnpike Hudson County Extension also had a full westbound blockage near Interchange 14A.
Downed Pole Closes Route 94, Water Main Break Hits Route 49
North Jersey drivers have another complete closure to watch.
A downed utility pole shut Route 94 in both directions south of White Lake Road in Sparta Township, according to the morning traffic report.
In Salem County, a water main break was affecting Route 49 westbound east of the I-295, U.S. 40 and New Jersey Turnpike interchange in Pennsville. One of two lanes and the right shoulder were closed.
Route 18 southbound was also squeezed in East Brunswick, where an unanticipated construction delay between the New Jersey Turnpike and Eggers Street/South Woodland Avenue closed two of three lanes.
What’s happening at the Holland Tunnel and George Washington Bridge?
The Holland Tunnel had a 10- to 15-minute trip to the New York side from Turnpike Exit 14C and about 20 minutes from Tonnelle Circle as of 8:32 a.m. At the George Washington Bridge, both the upper and lower levels were reporting roughly 15-minute eastbound travel times from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge.
I-287, Route 3 and Route 22 Join the Morning Slowdown
Even where crashes weren’t closing lanes, morning volume was slowing drivers across much of North and Central Jersey.
I-287 southbound was delayed between the South Randolphville Road area in Piscataway and Exit 5 at Stelton Road in South Plainfield. Another southbound slowdown was reported between Exit 14 at U.S. Route 22 and Exit 13 at Route 28 in Bridgewater.
Northbound I-287 was also backed up between Possumtown Road in Piscataway and Easton Avenue in Franklin Township.
Route 22 westbound was slow from west of the Garden State Parkway to Michigan Avenue in Union, while Route 3 westbound had delays between Rutherford and Clifton.
Other trouble included a westbound I-78 crash at Exit 7 for Route 173 in Bethlehem Township, where the ramp lane was closed.
What should drivers do before leaving Wednesday morning?
Conditions can change quickly as crashes are cleared and disabled vehicles are moved. Drivers should check 511NJ immediately before leaving and allow extra time if their route includes North Brunswick, Sayreville, Bayonne or the major New York crossings.
Sources: 511NJ, New Jersey’s statewide traffic information service and Wednesday morning incident reports
