NYC travelers have a few extra obstacles to navigate this week, with construction and maintenance work affecting everything from airport train service to major bridges and tunnels around the city.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is warning travelers to plan ahead and allow additional travel time, with a string of overnight closures, lane reductions and service changes taking place through Friday, October 9.
And if you’re flying out of JFK or Newark, driving through the Lincoln or Holland tunnels, or crossing one of the area’s major bridges, your usual route could look a little different.
Some of the biggest disruptions are happening tonight and tomorrow, while other construction-related changes will continue for weeks.
‼️ These are the biggest NYC travel disruptions happening tonight
If you’re traveling around the city Wednesday night into Thursday morning, several major transportation routes will be affected at the same time.
- JFK: AirTrain JFK service could be suspended from 10 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, through 6 a.m. Thursday, October 8, if earlier work is delayed by weather. Free shuttle buses will replace the trains.
- Lincoln Tunnel: The south tube will be closed from 11 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday. New York-bound traffic will use the center tube, while New Jersey-bound traffic will use the north tube.
- Holland Tunnel: One westbound lane will be closed from 11:30 p.m. Wednesday through 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
- George Washington Bridge: Multiple lane and ramp closures are scheduled throughout Wednesday and Thursday, including overnight restrictions.
- Outerbridge Crossing: A westbound lane will close from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday, with two eastbound toll lanes also closing from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
🚅 JFK travelers could face AirTrain disruptions tonight
Travelers heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport should be especially mindful of construction this week as the airport’s massive redevelopment continues. The Port Authority says AirTrain JFK service is scheduled to be suspended from 10 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, until 6 a.m. Thursday, October 8, if earlier work is delayed by inclement weather.
Free shuttle buses will operate between the AirTrain stations and terminals during the suspension, and customer service agents will be available to help passengers. The AirTrain disruption follows planned overnight suspensions earlier this week, as crews work on system upgrades.
And even when the AirTrain is running normally, construction throughout JFK can cause roadway detours and delays. Motorists and travelers using taxis or other for-hire vehicles should allow extra time because portions of the airport roadway network are being altered as part of the airport’s approximately $19 billion redevelopment.
The Port Authority is encouraging travelers to use mass transit whenever possible.
✈️ Newark Airport has construction delays — and an AirTrain disruption that lasts for weeks
Traveling through Newark Liberty International Airport? There are several changes to keep in mind. Through Friday, October 9, equipment deliveries and construction activity around Pitcairn Road could cause short traffic holds between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. One lane of Pitcairn Road near the P4 Garage will also be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
But there’s another disruption that lasts considerably longer. AirTrain Newark service between the Airport Train Station and the airport is suspended on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, November 13.
Shuttle buses are replacing AirTrain service between the Airport Train Station, all airport terminals, rental cars and P4 daily parking. AirTrain service between the terminals themselves is not affected.
There are also ongoing roadway changes around the airport. Access to P4 Daily Parking from southbound Brewster Road is detoured through November 6, as is the entrance to Interstate 78 from Brewster Road near P4.
🚙 Lincoln And Holland Tunnel Closures Could Slow Overnight Drivers This Week
Drivers traveling between NYC and New Jersey should expect overnight closures and lane reductions at both the Lincoln and Holland tunnels this week as construction continues.
At the Lincoln Tunnel, the south tube will close from 11 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, to 5 a.m. Thursday, followed by a center-tube closure during the same hours Thursday night into Friday. The Lincoln Tunnel Expressway is also closed Tuesday through Thursday nights from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with New Jersey-bound drivers directed to use local streets via 10th or 11th Avenue.
At the Holland Tunnel, one eastbound lane will close overnight through Thursday, while westbound lane closures are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday nights. Drivers should allow extra time for overnight trips between Manhattan and New Jersey.
🌉 The George Washington Bridge has multiple lane and ramp closures
The George Washington Bridge is facing some of the most extensive construction-related restrictions in the Port Authority’s weekly advisory.
Multiple lanes and ramps are scheduled to close at various times through Friday, October 9, including during both daytime and overnight hours.
Among the scheduled restrictions:
- One westbound lane on the lower level is closed during portions of the daytime.
- One westbound lane on the upper level will close Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Overnight closures will affect portions of the lower level.
- Several ramps connecting the bridge with the Henry Hudson Parkway and Trans-Manhattan Expressway will also close during specific overnight and daytime windows.
⚠️ Other bridges are also seeing overnight lane closures
The disruptions aren’t limited to the Hudson crossings. At the Goethals Bridge, one eastbound left lane is scheduled to close from 9 p.m. Thursday through 5 a.m. Friday.
At the Outerbridge Crossing, a westbound right lane will close from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday, while two eastbound toll lanes will close from 11 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday. Additional overnight lane closures are scheduled Thursday night as well.
🚈 PATH riders should also know about overnight station closures
PATH riders aren’t entirely in the clear either. The 9 St and 23 St PATH stations are closed overnight for maintenance from 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m.
During those hours, riders can use the nearby Christopher St and 33 St stations instead.At the World Trade Center PATH station, access to the Oculus transportation center is also limited overnight from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
During those hours, PATH riders should use the street-level entrances at Fulton Street or Vesey Street, as the other entrances will be closed.
📆 Some of these disruptions will continue beyond this week
While the Port Authority’s current travel advisory covers October 2 through October 8, not all of the construction-related disruptions end tomorrow.
The Newark AirTrain suspension, for example, is scheduled to continue through November 13, while several roadway detours at Newark Airport continue into November.
And construction at JFK is ongoing as part of the airport’s massive redevelopment, meaning travelers may continue to encounter roadway changes and delays even after this week’s specific advisory expires.
For anyone traveling through the region, the Port Authority recommends checking for the latest service and traffic updates before leaving, allowing extra travel time and using mass transit when possible.
So whether you’re catching a flight, crossing the Hudson or simply trying to get through Midtown after dark, it may be worth checking your route before you head out.