WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, N.J. — New Jersey commuters faced significant challenges during the Friday morning rush, as a combination of flooding, crashes, and heavy traffic created bottlenecks across the state’s roadways.
Flooding on the NJ 440 southbound ramp to the southbound US 9/Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge Township forced the closure of all lanes as of 7:39 a.m., according to traffic reports. Additionally, downed poles and wires closed all lanes of NJ 15 southbound in Jefferson Township, with the incident reported at 6:27 a.m.
Multiple crashes also contributed to disruptions. A crash on I-287 northbound near Exit 39 for NJ 10 in Hanover Township closed two left lanes as of 7:41 a.m., while another on US 1&9 northbound near Linden Airport in Linden blocked two center lanes as of 7:24 a.m. A debris spill on US 22 eastbound at Terrill Road in Watchung closed the left lane as of 7:27 a.m.
Heavy traffic delays were reported across several major highways. The George Washington Bridge experienced 35-minute delays on both the upper and lower eastbound levels, while the Lincoln Tunnel’s center and south tunnels saw delays of 20 minutes each. On the New Jersey Turnpike, delays stretched for two miles on both the local and express lanes northbound approaching the George Washington Bridge, with backups attributed to earlier bridge congestion.
Volume-related slowdowns were also noted on NJ 42 northbound, NJ 208 southbound, and NJ 55 northbound. Travel times on these routes ranged from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the area.
Commuters using NJ 495 eastbound encountered heavy traffic between the New Jersey Turnpike in North Bergen and Pleasant Avenue in Weehawken, with travel times reaching 15–20 minutes. Other busy areas included NJ 21 in Newark, NJ 17 in Rochelle Park Township, and Pulaski Skyway northbound in Jersey City.
Friday’s morning commute underscored the complexity of navigating New Jersey’s roadways during peak hours, particularly when compounded by adverse conditions and incidents.