NEWARK, NJ – The Monday morning commute across New Jersey saw a string of crashes and heavy delays on major highways and tunnels, with the worst backups stretching for miles on the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike.
As of 8 a.m., crashes were reported on several key routes. On the Garden State Parkway northbound, a crash at Exit 77 in Berkeley Township briefly slowed drivers but all lanes remained open. Another Parkway crash eastbound on NJ 70 at NJ 73 in Evesham Township closed one of two lanes, while Parkway congestion also stretched three miles through Lakewood and Brick Townships and five miles between Bloomfield and Clifton. The heaviest Parkway delay reached eight miles northbound from Woodbridge to Union Township.
Elsewhere, a crash on NJ 24 westbound near Exit 7 in Summit closed one of three lanes, while a Turnpike crash at Interchange 13A by Newark Liberty Airport pushed vehicles onto the shoulder. A separate crash at the Lincoln Tunnel center tube blocked a lane on the New Jersey side just before 7:30 a.m.
Delays also piled up at river crossings. The Holland Tunnel reported 20-minute travel times eastbound from both Exit 14C of the Turnpike and NJ 139 in Jersey City. At the Lincoln Tunnel, the eastbound approach from the Turnpike’s Exit 16E clocked in at 30 minutes. The Goethals Bridge reported 10-minute travel times eastbound from I-278 and the Turnpike’s Exit 13.
Additional congestion was noted on NJ 21 southbound near Exit 9 in Clifton, as well as I-78 westbound local lanes in Union and Springfield. Turnpike inner roadway delays stretched 2.5 miles northbound near Interchange 12 in Carteret.
Commuters faced an early-week reminder that September traffic remains heavy across the state’s busiest routes.
Key Points
- Multiple crashes reported on Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, NJ 24, NJ 70, and the Lincoln Tunnel during Monday rush.
- Longest delay: 8 miles on Garden State Parkway northbound from Woodbridge to Union.
- Hudson crossings posted 20- to 30-minute travel times eastbound into New York.
New Jersey’s highways made sure drivers started the week with a slowdown.