It’s shaping up to be a challenging morning on New Jersey’s roads, with crashes, construction, and volume delays creating headaches for commuters. Let’s break it down so you can plan your trip—or just mentally prepare for the gridlock.
Major Incidents to Watch
1. New Jersey Turnpike (Inner Roadway): A crash northbound near Interchange 13 (Goethals Bridge) in Linden is blocking the right lane. Expect slowdowns in the area as crews work to clear the scene.
2. NJ 27 Watermain Break (Princeton Township): Emergency construction has all lanes shifting on the northbound side near CR 605/River Road. Proceed with caution.
3. Garden State Parkway (Irvington Township): A disabled bus is blocking the left lane northbound just south of Exit 143C (NJ 124). This is creating additional congestion during peak travel hours.
4. US 1 Crash (West Windsor Township): A southbound crash at Harrison Street has closed the left lane, causing 5-10 minute delays.
Recurring Delays Due to Volume
- New Jersey Turnpike: Outer roadways near Newark Liberty Airport (Interchange 13A) are backed up with a one-mile delay, and the I-95 stretch near the George Washington Bridge faces a three-mile delay.
- Garden State Parkway: Multiple stretches northbound are seeing heavy congestion, including:
- A six-mile delay south of Exit 150 in Bloomfield.
- A 3.5-mile delay north of Exit 141 in Hillside Township.
- A five-mile backup in Clark Township near Exit 135.
- George Washington Bridge: Eastbound delays are significant. The upper level has a 60-minute travel time from I-80, while the lower level clocks in at 40 minutes.
- Lincoln and Holland Tunnels: Lincoln Tunnel delays remain consistent at 40 minutes from the New Jersey Turnpike Exit 16E. The Holland Tunnel is seeing 30-minute delays from both Exit 14C and NJ 139.
Key Takeaways
If you’re headed to or through northern New Jersey, the major interchanges and bridges are taking the brunt of the delays. Construction on NJ 27 in multiple spots adds to the frustration for those in central Jersey. Wherever you’re headed, patience (and maybe an extra podcast) is essential today.
Stay safe, drive carefully, and remember: sometimes the scenic route is worth the detour!