Crime & Safety
Bayonne Bridge Closed In Snow Storm; 'Trucks Can't Get Up Ramp'
Authorities closed the Bayonne Bridge as "adverse weather" pummeled the New Jersey and New York crossing, officials said.
BAYONNE, NJ -- Officials temporarily closed the Bayonne Bridge on Thursday amid reports of stuck cars and "sliding" trucks as the winter's first snowstorm pummeled the New Jersey and New York area.
Just as the evening rush hours began, Port Authority officials announced that they were closing the steel arch bridge, which connects Bayonne, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York, in both directions "due to adverse weather."
Port Authority officials temporarily reopened the New Jersey-bound section of the bridge, but closed it again shortly afterwards as a heavy snow continued to pound down on the area.
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Several cars got stuck on the incline of the renovated bridge, which is steeper than it used to be, a Port Authority spokesperson told NJ.com.
"I'm currently stuck in Staten Island waiting to get over the Bayonne Bridge for almost 3 hours and my wife is in labor at the hospital... Thanks Bayonne Bridge!" one frustrated commuter wrote on social media.
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"Been standing on this ramp for half an hour already," another Twitter user wrote. "This was a very bad day to close the Bayonne Bridge. The worst is that trucks are sliding, they can't get up the ramp. Scary to be stuck here with them."
"Been here since 2:30... Gas light is now on and my car cant climb over the snow that's accumulated... Sitting in a car with no heat," another driver reported.
The bridge remained closed as of 6 p.m., according to the Bayonne OEM, which said that emergency workers were "clearing a tractor-trailer" from the scene.
The Bayonne OEM stated:
"There will be a changeover to sleet, freezing rain, and rain. TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. Please avoid driving. If you have to go out, please drive carefully and give crews a wide berth for plowing/salting operations."
The bridge was reopened again at 8:10 p.m., the Bayonne OEM reported in an update.
The Bayonne Bridge NJ Bound is closed again due to adverse weather. NY Bound remains closed. [93]
— Bayonne Bridge (@BayonneBridge) November 15, 2018
Been standing on this ramp for half an hour already. This was a very bad day to close Bayonne bridge. The worst is that trucks are sliding, they can't get up the ramp. Scary to be stuck here with them.#WinterStormAvery pic.twitter.com/Q16MZmkFbm
— Kami (@Kamiccola) November 15, 2018
21st Street and 440 ( Sent To us by Jose Burgos ) has been stuck there for 2 hours !!!! pic.twitter.com/utYBS1PLUZ
— Bayonne-Alerts-and whats-happenning-now(@BayonneAnd) November 15, 2018
Only limited buses have been able to get to PABT due to weather conditions, leading to overcrowding.Commuters urged to seek rail/ferry alternatives to NJ. [07]
— PortAuthBusTerminal (@PABusTerminal) November 16, 2018
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com
Photo: YouTube / Port Authority New York & New Jersey
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