Monday Traffic Around Essex County: Roads, Tunnels, Bridges Open

The weekend snowstorm came and went… but traffic marches on.

Here’s how Monday’s commute in the Essex County area looked at 9 a.m.

BRIDGES AND TUNNELS

After enacting a travel ban to New York on Saturday afternoon, closing entryways such as the Lincoln Tunnel, the George Washington Bridge and the Holland Tunnel, the Port Authority of NY/NJ officially reopened all of its bridges and tunnels at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

• See related article: Port Authority Says No Travel To NY: Airport, Tunnel/Bridge, PATH and Bus Status

There were multiple traffic related incidents on Monday, Port Authority officials reported:

• 8:49 a.m. - The GWB Sidewalk is closed due to slippery conditions for more than 90 minutes.
• 9 a.m. - The Lincoln Tunnel to NY is experiencing a delay of 45 minutes due to a disabled vehicle.
• 9:01 a.m. - The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) to NY is experiencing a delay of 45 minutes due to a disabled vehicle.

ACCIDENTS AND DELAYS

After reporting several accidents and disabled vehicles on Saturday - when the brunt of the snow hit Essex County - 511NJ.org only reported volume and construction-related delays in Essex County at 9 a.m. on Monday.

• See related article: Stay Home Sunday, Essex County: Blizzard Warning To Lift, But Roads Still Hazardous

One of the few reported traffic incidents in Essex County on Monday morning involved an overturned vehicle in Newark near the Courtyard Marriot, which forced the closure of an exit ramp around 6:30 a.m., RLS Media stated.

However, across the state, NJ State troopers responded to 301 crashes and 1,635 motorist aids, according to police.

“There is not travel ban, but slow and steady is the way to go if you’re out and about. Road conditions are still dangerous in many areas,” state police advised on Monday.

Police also advised motorists to clear snow and ice from their cars.

“Let’s not leave snow on the roof for the wind to take care of,” NJ State Police wrote on a Monday morning social media post. “Please make sure you remove the snow from your vehicle. Snow and ice blowing off of roofs cause dangerous driving conditions… Let’s not make a Monday any worse than it already is.”

Under New Jersey state law, motorists who fail to remove all snow and ice from their vehicle before hitting the road can face fines of $25 to $75 for each offense, regardless of whether the ice and snow is dislodged from the vehicle.

If flying ice or snow causes property damage or injury to others, motorists face fines of $200 to $1,000 for each offense, according to the NJ Office of the Attorney General.

Photo courtesy of the NJ State Police