Northern NJ Traffic Alert: Crash, Utility Pole Down, Construction & More

Drivers across North Jersey should expect scattered slowdowns and lane closures tied to a mid-day crash, ongoing bridge and tunnel operations, and a wide footprint of daytime construction on I-287, I-80, I-78, NJ 3, NJ 17, US 46, the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, and Holland Tunnel.

Top trouble spots right now

New Jersey Turnpike (outer roadway NB): Crash reported 12:02 p.m. south of Interchange 13A (Newark Liberty/US 1&9) in Elizabeth; all lanes currently open, but watch for residual delays and rubbernecking.
US 1&9 Truck Route (Hackensack River Drawbridge): Drawbridge opening reported 11:21 a.m. in Kearny/Jersey City; all lanes open but expect intermittent stoppages and backups.
US 1&9 (Newark): Utility pole down reported 6:55 a.m. southbound at McClellan Street; right lane and right shoulder closed.
Lincoln Tunnel (Weehawken toll plaza / center tube): Operational activity reported 11:17 a.m.; two-way traffic in the center tunnel, proceed with caution and expect congestion approaching the tolls.

North Jersey drivers are dealing with a familiar mix this afternoon: a reported crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, a downed utility pole restricting a busy Newark stretch of US 1&9, intermittent delays tied to a drawbridge opening on the US 1&9 Truck Route, and a broad web of daytime construction that is squeezing lanes on several of the region’s biggest arteries.

Even where “all lanes are open,” expect stop-and-go conditions from merging traffic, shoulder activity, and rubbernecking, especially near major choke points leading toward the Hudson River crossings.

The most immediate incident is on the New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway northbound in Elizabeth, where a crash was reported late morning south of Interchange 13A (Newark Liberty/US 1&9). Lanes were listed as open, but that stretch can snarl quickly as drivers slow to pass the scene.

In Newark, a utility pole down on US 1&9 southbound at McClellan Street is forcing a tighter squeeze with the right lane and right shoulder closed, a setup that can ripple into adjacent intersections and ramps as traffic compresses into fewer lanes.

Meanwhile, on the US 1&9 Truck Route near the Hackensack River Drawbridge in the Kearny–Jersey City area, a drawbridge opening earlier in the day was reported with lanes open afterward, but it often leaves a long tail of congestion that takes time to unwind.

For many commuters, though, the bigger story is the sheer footprint of scheduled work. Daytime lane closures are affecting long stretches of I-287, I-80, and I-78, alongside busy state routes and arterials such as NJ 3, NJ 17, NJ 53, NJ 7, US 46, US 206, and portions of I-280. If you’re traveling through the Parsippany–Rockaway corridor, expect added friction from overlapping work on I-80 and nearby connectors. In Hudson County, traffic patterns can change quickly near the Lincoln Tunnel during operational activity, and the usual approaches to the George Washington Bridge remain sensitive to lane restrictions and ongoing access work in Fort Lee.

A few closures are more than just “today problems.” In Jersey City/Hoboken, Marin Boulevard is listed as closed in both directions between 18th Street and Observer Highway, pushing traffic onto local alternates. In the Newark port area, several detours and closures tied to Port/Corbin/Inner Port Street are slated to remain in place through March 31, 2026, continuing to reshape how drivers move through the marine terminal and nearby industrial streets. And in Elizabeth, Earhart Drive southbound remains closed and detoured from South Bridge to the Outer Roadway Entrance, with northbound traffic still open.

If you’re heading out in the next few hours, the safest bet is to assume your normal route will have at least one pinch point. Build extra time if you’re passing through Newark and Elizabeth, approaching the Hudson River crossings, or running east-west through the I-80 and NJ 3 corridors.