Potential gridlock Monday near Holland Tunnel after Jersey City fire

CeFaan Kim Image
Monday, October 2, 2017
Commuters warned of potential gridlock near Holland Tunnel after fire
CeFaan Kim has more on what commuters can expect Monday morning.

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- It's gridlock city at the Holland Tunnel, and this is during off-peak hours. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but that light is red.

It took a half hour for Eyewitness News to make it through on Sunday night, and most drivers say it took them even longer than that. Never exceeding 10 miles an hour, at times traffic was at a complete standstill.

Officials are warning of potential backups this week at the Holland Tunnel.

The traffic nightmare was a result of the Jersey City fire on Friday - so hot, it melted support beams and shut downs three lanes of the Route 139 ramp, which funnels traffic from several major roads coming out of the city.

Port Authority Police were out late Sunday night, doing their best to ease the pain. Construction workers worked round the clock to get things back up and running.

Until the lanes are open, PATH trains will provide more service on its Newark to World Trade Center, Journal Square to 33rd Street and Hoboken to World Trade Center lines. NJ Transit will also add capacity to Hudson Bergen Light Rail Service, and more buses to and from Port Authority.

Officials say the backup could spill into New York City streets.