Wednesday's dump truck fire on the New Jersey Turnpike will have have a longtime effect for westbound Interstate 195 drivers with delays already developing.

One lane over Interstate 195
One lane on Interstate 195 westbound over the New Jersey Turnpike. (Matthew White, Townsquare Media NJ)
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I-195 westbound delays started early around 6AM and quickly backed up to exit 16 in Jackson. Route 130 and surrounding roads are also picking up extra volume from drivers looking for an alternate route.

FULL COVERAGE: New Jersey Turnpike Dump Truck Fire

Drivers also report State Police are enforcing the rules against driving on the shoulder of the road and issuing tickets.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson says westbound I-195 will have only one lane available on the overpass crossing the New Jersey Turnpike for the next six weeks as work is completed on the new adjacent overpass which has been under construction as part of the Turnpike widening project.

Simpson in a press release says the DOT will work with the contractor to accelerate work and open the new overpass sooner.The old overpass will be demolished once work is complete.

Eastbound traffic will continue to have two lanes available.

Simpson suggests drivers leave extra time in the morning for their commute and consider using an alternate route to get around the stretch.

New Jersey 101.5 Traffic anchor Bob Williams says westbound traffic normally builds ater 7AM approaching that area sometimes at exit 11 for Imlaystown and it doesn't take much to slow traffic.

 

The  driver of the dump truck,  believed to be a 49-year-old Belleville man, was killed when it  crashed into a jersey barrier underneath the I-195 overpass on the southbound Turnpike and became engulfed in flames.

The Turnpike was closed for roughly a 50 mile stretch between exit 4 in Mount Laurel and exit 9 in New Brunswick for much of .Wednesday, pushing traffic onto a number of local roads. Interstate 195 was also closed between exits 5 and 7.

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