Significant Traffic Disruptions in Lincoln Tunnel Due to Vehicle Fire

Traffic Chaos in Lincoln Tunnel

On Wednesday evening, a vehicle fire led to substantial traffic congestion in the Lincoln Tunnel, obstructing lanes from Manhattan to New Jersey. The Port Authority, along with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, reported that the north tube of the tunnel, which directs traffic westbound toward New Jersey, was shut down. The incident took place near the New Jersey exit in Weehawken Township, causing significant disruptions during peak rush hour.

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Officials confirmed that all lanes in the north tube were blocked. To maintain service, buses were rerouted from the north tube to the center tube. North Jersey Buses announced on X that NJ TRANSIT bus services entering and exiting the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal were experiencing delays of up to 15 minutes due to the fire. The New Jersey Department of Transportation released a statement at 5:25 PM indicating, “There’s a vehicle fire at the Lincoln Tunnel north tunnel westbound approaching New Jersey side in Weehawken Twp. All lanes blocked.” Fire department crews were on-site managing the situation.

Impact on Traffic Flow

The closure resulted in significant traffic jams for commuters traveling from Manhattan to New Jersey. Local media reported that some buses were delayed as they had to utilize the center tube instead of the north tube. Drivers were advised to anticipate delays and consider alternative routes.

The Port Authority confirmed that traffic heading into New Jersey was considerably slowed. Authorities provided updates as the situation unfolded, with emergency crews working diligently to extinguish the fire and clear the lanes promptly. The center tube remained accessible for diverted buses and other vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported related to the fire.