Afternoon Traffic Report: Delays, Closures, and Construction Across Northern New Jersey

Motorists across Northern New Jersey are facing a mix of delays, disabled vehicles, downed poles, and long-term construction projects as the Friday afternoon commute develops.

As of early afternoon, drivers encountered significant slowdowns on major highways, bridges, and tunnels. Some incidents have caused lane closures, while others are contributing to heavy congestion due to high traffic volume.

Accidents and Disabled Vehicles

At 2:51 p.m., a disabled vehicle on the Pulaski Skyway eastbound near Tonnelle Circle in Jersey City resulted in the closure of one of two lanes, slowing movement toward New York access points.
Just minutes earlier, at 2:48 p.m., authorities reported a downed pole on U.S. Route 46 in Parsippany-Troy Hills. Eastbound lanes were fully shut down, while westbound traffic was reduced to two lanes. Drivers should expect detours and extended travel times in this area.

Highway Delays

Multiple state highways experienced persistent congestion throughout the afternoon:

• Garden State Parkway saw delays in both directions. Southbound traffic was backed up nearly 2.5 miles between Hillside and Kenilworth as of 3:10 p.m., while northbound traffic was slowed for 1.5 miles from Irvington into Bloomfield earlier in the day.

• New Jersey Turnpike drivers encountered heavy congestion. The Western Spur southbound had a 4-mile delay through Rutherford and Newark, while the Eastern Spur southbound faced a 2-mile backup near Secaucus. Northbound traffic on both spurs was also congested near Newark.

• I-280 had steady delays in both directions, with eastbound slowdowns between East Orange and Newark, and westbound congestion stretching through Harrison.

• NJ 21, NJ 3, NJ 4, NJ 17, and NJ 24 all reported moderate congestion through Newark, Clifton, Teaneck, Paramus, and Hanover Township.

Bridge and Tunnel Traffic

Commuters heading into New York faced typical Friday congestion:

• George Washington Bridge: Eastbound traffic was delayed on both the upper and lower levels. Travel time was reported at 15 minutes on I-95 from I-80 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge for the lower level, and 20 minutes for the upper level.

• Lincoln Tunnel: Eastbound traffic moved with 15-minute travel times from Turnpike Exit 16E to Manhattan.

• Holland Tunnel: Eastbound drivers faced 10–15 minute waits from Jersey City, with no reported lane closures.

Construction Alerts

Ongoing roadway work continues to impact travel across Northern New Jersey:

• I-78, I-80, NJ 17, NJ 23, NJ 7, and NJ 120 all reported lane or shoulder closures due to long-term projects.

• Notably, major construction continues near Newark’s Port District, with closures on Inner Port Street, Corbin Street, and Port Street ramps expected to last until December 2025.

• The George Washington Bridge upper level eastbound remained partially restricted with one right lane closed until 4:30 p.m. today.

Special Events

Traffic near American Dream Mall in East Rutherford was further impacted by two scheduled events—the FUBU NY Fashion Street show and the HBCUNY Classic Pep Rally—both set to continue until 4:00 p.m.. Visitors should anticipate parking delays and heavier-than-usual local congestion.

Commuter Outlook

With multiple construction projects, accident-related lane closures, and typical Friday volume, commuters are advised to allow extra time when traveling through Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Morris, and Passaic counties. Public transit may provide a faster alternative for cross-Hudson commutes, particularly during the late afternoon rush.