Crashes and Widespread Construction Slow North Jersey Traffic on Tuesday

Motorists across North Jersey face significant delays due to a crash on I-80 and dozens of active construction zones, including long-term closures in Newark’s Port district.

North Jersey commuters encountered extensive delays today as a crash on I-80 and ongoing construction on major highways and local roads slowed traffic throughout the region.

As of 1:40 p.m., a crash on Interstate 80 westbound, just west of Exit 34 for NJ Route 15 in Wharton, led to the closure of two out of three lanes, severely hampering westbound travel during the early afternoon. No injuries or estimated clearance time were immediately reported.

In addition to the crash, over 40 active construction zones across Bergen, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex, Warren, and Union counties are contributing to traffic congestion today. Notable construction zones with lane closures include:

• George Washington Bridge (Fort Lee): One right lane on the upper level eastbound remains closed until 4:30 p.m., causing delays for drivers heading into New York City.

• I-280 (Kearny): Both eastbound and westbound directions are experiencing left lane closures in the vicinity of CR 508 until 3:00 p.m..

• US Route 46: Multiple segments are affected, including:

  • Westbound near the New Jersey Turnpike in Ridgefield Park to South Hackensack, with a right lane closed until 2:00 p.m.

  • Extensive work in Mount Olive, Knowlton, Denville, and Parsippany, impacting both shoulders and travel lanes into the afternoon.

• NJ Route 23: Lane and shoulder closures are affecting both northbound and southbound lanes from Pequannock to Sussex, with closures expected until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. in various areas.

• NJ Route 17 (East Rutherford to Carlstadt): Right lane and shoulder closures are impacting northbound and southbound lanes, extending delays through 5:00 p.m..

• I-287 (Harding to Bernards): Ongoing southbound construction has closed the right lane and shoulder through 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.

• NJ Route 3: Eastbound and westbound construction in Secaucus, Rutherford, and North Bergen continues to reduce capacity until mid-afternoon.

• I-78 (Union Township): Eastbound express and local lanes are affected near Exit 52, with right and left lane closures until 3:00 p.m..

Additionally, significant long-term infrastructure work is underway in Newark's port area, where full and partial closures on Corbin Street, Port Street, and Inner Port Street are expected to last through December 2025. These projects are disrupting both freight and local vehicular access, with detours in place via Marlin Street for affected traffic.

Ramp and shoulder work is also ongoing in high-traffic corridors:

• New Jersey Turnpike (Western Spur southbound): A ramp at Interchange 16W in East Rutherford is closed.

• I-80 eastbound at Exit 56B (Woodland Park): The ramp to Squirrelwood Road remains fully closed until November 18, 2025.

While many of these projects are part of routine maintenance and long-term upgrades, their cumulative impact is straining traffic flow, especially during daytime hours. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes, allow additional travel time, and consult real-time traffic updates from the New Jersey Department of Transportation and local authorities.