NEWARK, N.J. – Commuters faced a rough Tuesday morning across New Jersey as multiple crashes, delays, and road hazards clogged major highways during rush hour.
Just before 8:45 a.m., a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike–Hudson County Extension eastbound near Interchange 14 in Newark slowed traffic, though all lanes have since reopened.
A downed utility pole on Route 23 in Wantage Township shut down both directions north of Pond School Road, forcing detours in Sussex County.
In South Jersey, a watermain break on Route 73 northbound in Maple Shade Township closed one of three lanes, while another crash on Route 73 southbound nearby also restricted a lane.
A disabled tractor-trailer on I-78 westbound near Exit 48 in Springfield Township added to morning gridlock, closing one right lane and backing up traffic for miles.
Turnpike delays stretch for miles
The New Jersey Turnpike saw heavy congestion in both directions, including a two-mile delay northbound near Interchange 13 in Linden and a three-mile backup on the inner roadway approaching Newark Liberty International Airport. The Eastern and Western Spurs were also jammed near Interchange 15W and the Newark Bay Bridge, with multiple crashes and slow-moving traffic reported.
Motorists on the Hudson County Extension in Bayonne experienced one-mile delays following an earlier incident westbound near Interchange 14A. Despite all lanes reopening, volume remained heavy well into the 9 a.m. hour.
Parkway and bridge backups add to gridlock
The Garden State Parkway reported multiple slowdowns, with a four-mile delay southbound through East Orange and Kenilworth and a five-mile backup northbound near Cranford. Northbound traffic was also slow through Woodbridge and Bloomfield.
At Hudson River crossings, commuters encountered significant travel times. The Lincoln Tunnel saw 30-minute delays through both the center and south tubes from Turnpike Exit 16E. The George Washington Bridge’s upper level eastbound had a 45-minute backup from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, while the lower level was delayed by about 30 minutes.
Statewide traffic headaches persist
Elsewhere, drivers on I-287 near Bedminster, Route 1 in West Windsor, and NJ 3 westbound near Clifton all experienced congestion. Minor slowdowns were also reported on NJ 17, NJ 21, and NJ 4 in Bergen and Passaic counties due to heavy commuter volume.
Transportation officials advised drivers to allow extra travel time and use caution near watermain repairs and utility work zones.
New Jersey commuters faced widespread morning delays due to multiple crashes, watermain breaks, and congestion across major highways.