Traffic Update At Jersey Shore: Truck Fire In Brick Jams Parkway

JERSEY SHORE, NJ — The Garden State Parkway in Ocean County is not the place to be on Friday afternoon, thanks to beach traffic southbound and a truck fire that's blocking the northbound lanes.

Traffic northbound was backed up for 5 miles because of the truck fire, which forced the closure of three lanes just north of Chambers Bridge Road, near exit 91B, according to 511nj.org, the state Department of Transportation's traffic website. The incident, combined with increasing volume, was causing a 6½-mile delay in the southbound lanes as well.

Southbound travelers on the Parkway were slowed further north in the Middletown area due to a crash on the southbound side south of Exit 109, according to 511nj.org. That crash was causing a 3-mile backup.

Those incidents and increasing volume have extended travel times for those heading to shore points. The travel time from the Raritan River bridge south to Belmar was taking nearly 40 minutes as of 3 p.m., and the trip to Exit 63 for Long Beach Island was taking more than an hour and a half.

Traffic eastbound on Interstate 195 was increasing and heavier closer to the shore, and there was a steady stream of traffic on the Atlantic City Expressway on Friday as well.

The Accuweather forecast for Toms River is for continued hot and humid weather Saturday, with highs near 90 and thunderstorms possible. Sunday should be a nearly perfect day with temperatures in the low 80s and lower humidity.

Saturday morning traffic likely will be very heavy as folks head to shore points seeking relief. Sunday could be busy as well.

Lifeguards are on duty throughout the shore. Need information on beach badges? Check out Patch's 2021 Jersey Shore Beach Guide: What To Know.

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