Patch Jersey Shore Traffic Report Summer 2021: July 16-18

JERSEY SHORE, NJ — The hazy, hot weather on tap for this weekend had people heading south by the hundreds on Friday night.

The combination of rush hour and weekend travelers resulted in a 13-mile slowdown on the Garden State Parkway Friday night, from the Wall rest area to the Toms River tolls.

While it's likely there will be a lot of people who will head to the beaches the rest of the weekend, the traffic may be tempered on Saturday by predictions of widespread thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory Friday in 14 of New Jersey's counties, and the hot temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s.

The forecast also includes isolated thunderstorms on Friday, and Saturday is forecasted to bring widespread thunderstorms, excessive rainfall, excessive rainfall and lightning, according to the National Weather Service. Read more: Severe Storms Loom In Parts Of NJ As Heat Index Soars Over 100

Some people headed to the shore on Thursday, as traffic alerts in the evening showed a 6-mile backup on the Garden State Parkway due to volume in the evening.

Delays and Stop and Go Traffic on Garden State Parkway southbound South of Exit 98 - NJ 138 (Wall Twp) to South of Exit 83 - US 9 North (Toms River Twp) All lanes open 13 mile delay https://t.co/6XnJq7FWHK
— 511NJ GSP (@511njgsp) July 16, 2021

Traffic eastbound from the Philadelphia area was picking up on Route 42 and the Atlantic City Expressway on Friday as of 2 p.m., and southbound it was slowing in the area of the Toms River Toll Plaza.

The state Department of Transportation website 511nj.org was showing the trip from the Raritan River bridge south to exit 63 for Long Beach Island was taking more than an hour as of 2 p.m.

Travel delays of 5 to 10 minutes also were being reported on Route 35 south through Mantoloking and on Route 72 east to Long Beach Island, according to the DOT website.

Those roads and others, including Route 36 to Sandy Hook and Long Branch, Route 37 to Seaside Heights and Interstate 195 to the Belmar area will likely see heavier traffic Saturday morning and Sunday morning, with daytrippers heading to the boardwalks and beach areas.

The possibility of afternoon thunderstorms on Sunday could mean travelers will head north and west sooner.

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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