Chaos at Lincoln Tunnel: Outbound lanes shut, morning commute grinds to a halt. Check latest traffic update

Parts of Lincoln Tunnel's Helix are closed on Thursday morning due to a crash investigation, according to Port Authority, according to Pix11 news. The Lincoln Tunnel is dealing with major delays for both inbound and outbound traffic and a police investigation is underway since about 1:30 a.m. Thursday on the outbound side of the Helix. Commuters are facing significant delays at the Lincoln Tunnel, with both inbound and outbound traffic heavily affected.

All lanes of the 495 Helix going into New Jersey are closed, while only one lane is open heading into New York City. Port Authority said that New Jersey-bound traffic is being diverted to the Hoboken Tunnel. A police officer was seen picking up a vehicle bumper from the westbound side of the roadway, which is filled with evidence markers.

"NJ TRANSIT bus service traveling into and out of the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal is subject to up to 30-minute delays due to an earlier motor vehicle accident on Route 495. NJ TRANSIT bus tickets and passes are being cross honored by NJ TRANSIT rail service," North Jersey buses said in a post on X.


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"The earlier police activity on 495 eastbound has cleared. All lanes are reopened eastbound and westbound. Expect residual delays. Updates are posted when situations change," an update from an X account 'Lincoln Tunne;' read.

The investigation has shut down all outbound lanes leading to I-495, with traffic being rerouted through the Weehawken-Hoboken local exit. Inbound traffic is also heavily impacted — only one lane remains open, causing backups that stretch as far as the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3. Motorists are urged to avoid the area and instead use the George Washington Bridge or the Holland Tunnel as alternate routes.

What happened at the Lincoln Tunnel?

According to reports, inbound drivers were left with just one open lane which caused bumper-to-bumper congestion stretching back to the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3. The lane restrictions were due to an investigation that began overnight and carried into the morning rush.

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As per SkyFOX, two outbound helix lanes reopened earlier—helping traffic flow freely out of the city—inbound drivers weren’t as lucky. A major bottleneck forced all vehicles to squeeze into a single right lane before the tunnel, creating long, frustrating backups.

Many frustrated commuters were quick enough to take to social media to vent out their frustration about the hour-long waits and gridlock at the Lincoln Tunnel. Drivers were urged to avoid the Lincoln Tunnel and seek alternate routes due to severe inbound delays.

Motorists were advised to alternate routes, like the Holland Tunnel seeing only minor delays of about 10 to 15 minutes, and the George Washington Bridge experiencing 30-minute waits at both levels.