The morning commute into New York City was heavily disrupted after an accident near the Lincoln Tunnel caused significant closures and delays. A crash on the Helix's outbound side, which led to the shutdown of several lanes, triggered a traffic snarl affecting drivers for hours. According to CBS News New York, the incident occurred overnight and carried into the early morning hours, with the crash investigation closing all outbound lanes onto 495.
Travelers heading out of the city were diverted to a Weehawken-Hoboken local exit, while, those entering the city had access to only one inbound lane. This created a backup reaching the New Jersey Turnpike and stretching onto Route 3. Even after lanes reopened shortly after 7:30 a.m., residual delays continued to plague the area. Commuters were advised to consider the George Washington Bridge or Holland Tunnel as alternative routes.
In addition, PIX11 News reported that parts of the Helix leading into New Jersey were completely closed off during the early morning hours. By contrast, traffic into New York City was maintained in a limited capacity with a single lane available. This came after a motorist was found lying on the roadway, necessitating their transport to a local hospital according to authorities.
NJ Transit bus services were also affected, with up to 30-minute delays reported for routes going into and out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. In response to the disruptions, NJ Transit allowed for bus tickets and passes to be cross-honored by NJ Transit trains. As the Helix fully reopened before 8 a.m., a police officer was seen collecting a vehicle bumper from the westbound side of the roadway, which was dotted with evidence markers, indicating an extensive and thorough on-site investigation by officials.
