STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Heavy truck traffic contributed to delays on the Goethals Bridge and the Staten Island Expressway during the morning rush hour on Monday.
The traffic jam on the Goethals and expressway Brooklyn-bound lasted for about four hours during the morning commute.
Heavy truck traffic that clogs the Goethals, expressway and access roads has been an ongoing problem in Mariners Harbor and Bloomfield.
Based on images captured by surveillance cameras around 10 a.m., trucks were continuing to clog the Forest Avenue/Gulf Avenue exit, the first turn off the Goethals Bridge.
The snarl began early in the morning rush hour.
Starting around 6:15 a.m., traffic was backing up onto the Staten Island-bound Goethals due to congestion at the Forest Avenue/Gulf Avenue exit, according to an alert from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The truck inspection area on the Staten Island-bound side of the span was “closed due to heavy truck traffic,” according to an alert around 6:45 a.m. from the Port Authority.
Around 7 a.m., delays were called on the span due to volume on the Brooklyn-bound Staten Island Expressway, according to the Port Authority.
Truck traffic was backed up on Goethals Road North to Western Avenue in Mariners Harbor near the span and the New Jersey-bound expressway, according to a Port Authority alert around 8:15 a.m.
Alerts from the Port Authority and trackers indicated that traffic eased around 10 a.m. on the Goethals and the Staten Island Expressway.
Borough president addresses truck traffic
“Upon learning about the dense truck traffic related to Port Liberty, we entered into discussions with the Port Authority, NYPD, PAPD and DOT to develop solutions. One of the suggestions was to open the port an hour earlier, which we are glad they are doing. We appreciate the Port Authority for pushing this and making it happen,” Fossella said in a statement to the Advance/SILive.com.
The traffic issue has plagued residents and commuters traveling to and from the Goethals Bridge, where Port Liberty — also known as Howland Hook — is located nearby.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.