NEWARK, NJ – Thursday’s morning commute across New Jersey brought a mix of crashes, lane closures, and long delays at Hudson River crossings, according to state traffic officials.
By 8:30 a.m., multiple incidents were slowing drivers on major highways including Routes 18, I-295, and U.S. 202, with added congestion along both the eastern and western spurs of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Motorists heading toward New York City faced the longest waits, with travel times topping 40 minutes at key tunnels and bridges.
Crashes reported on Route 18 and I-295
Emergency crews were on the scene of a crash on Route 18 northbound in East Brunswick near U.S. 1, where one right lane remained closed. A separate EMS incident on Route 18 southbound near Morris Avenue in Piscataway closed one of two lanes and the right shoulder.
Farther south, a crash on I-295 northbound in Mount Laurel just past Exit 36 closed the left shoulder, causing additional delays.
In Somerset County, a malfunctioning traffic light continued to affect both directions of U.S. 202 at River Road in Branchburg, where one left lane remained blocked.
Turnpike traffic heavy across both spurs
Northbound commuters encountered four miles of congestion on the inner and outer roadways of the New Jersey Turnpike between Interchange 13 in Linden and 13A near Newark Liberty International Airport. Additional slowdowns were reported along the Western Spur near Interchange 15W and the Eastern Spur between Newark and Kearny, with volume-related delays extending for several miles.
The eastbound ramp to Interchange 16E in North Bergen also experienced slow-moving traffic due to volume heading toward the Lincoln Tunnel.
Bridge and tunnel travel times climbing
At the Hudson River crossings, the George Washington Bridge’s upper level posted a 35-minute travel time from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, while the lower level averaged 30 minutes.
The Lincoln Tunnel saw the heaviest congestion, with both the center and south tunnels reporting 40-minute eastbound travel times from Turnpike Exit 16E. The Holland Tunnel remained slower than normal, with 30-minute waits from Exit 14C and 25 minutes from New Jersey 139 at Tonnelle Circle.
Drivers were advised to allow extra time for their morning commute or consider alternate routes.