Manhattan has a heartbeat, but today, that heart is definitely skipping a beat. If you’ve stepped foot outside near the Lincoln Tunnel or tried to cross the Broadway Bridge this morning, you already know. It’s messy. Traffic in New York City today isn't just the usual "honking and hoping"—it's a specific cocktail of major bridge repairs, a massive nursing strike, and the lingering confusion over how congestion pricing is actually working out.
Honestly, it feels like the city is being squeezed from all sides. We’re deep into January 2026, and while the "new year, new me" vibes have worn off, the "new year, same construction" reality is hitting hard.
The Broadway Bridge and Other Bottlenecks
Let's talk about the Broadway Bridge. If you’re coming from the Bronx or heading north out of Manhattan, you've likely seen the single-lane restrictions that started up again this week. NYCDOT is currently deep into electrical and structural steel repairs. They're trying to keep at least one lane open, but during that 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window? Forget it. It’s basically a parking lot.
It’s not just the bridges, though. The FDR Drive is having a rough Wednesday too. Between Montgomery Street and East 15th Street, they’ve got those single-lane closures for the East Side Coastal Resiliency project. It’s one of those "necessary evils" for flood protection, but tell that to the guy who's been sitting behind a concrete mixer for twenty minutes.
Over at the Lincoln Tunnel, things are about to get tighter. Starting at 11 p.m. tonight, the North Tube is shutting down until 5 a.m. tomorrow. If you're planning a late-night run back to Jersey, you’ll be funneled into the South or Center tubes. It usually moves, but it’s never what you’d call "fast."
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The Strike Factor: Picket Lines and Pedestrians
There’s a massive human element to the traffic in New York City today that isn't on a GPS map: the nurses. We are on day three of a major strike involving roughly 15,000 nurses at Mount Sinai and Montefiore.
Why does this matter for your commute?
Because picketing isn't just happening on the sidewalk. Around the Bronx and the Upper East Side, crowds are significant. Emergency vehicles are being prioritized, obviously, but the general flow of traffic around these major medical hubs is sluggish. You’ve got rubbernecking, pedestrian overflows, and local street closures that pop up as rallies move. If you usually cut through the East 90s or near the Montefiore campuses in the Bronx, just... don't. Give those blocks a wide berth.
The Congestion Pricing Verdict (So Far)
We’ve now had about a year of the $9 peak toll for driving below 60th Street, and the data coming out today is actually kind of wild. According to the Regional Plan Association, we haven't seen the "traffic displacement" everyone was terrified of. You know, the theory that cars would just flood the Bronx or Staten Island to avoid the fee?
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It hasn't really happened.
Instead, the MTA is reporting about 87,000 fewer cars entering the zone daily. That’s a 12% drop. Air pollution inside the zone is down 22%—which is great for your lungs, even if the $9 toll is bad for your wallet. But here is the kicker: even with fewer cars, the "today" traffic feels heavy because of the sheer volume of construction taking place. It’s like the city saw the empty space and said, "Great, more room for orange cones."
Subway Struggles: The J Train and Residual Delays
If you thought, "I’ll just take the train," you might have been met with a headache this morning. There was a full suspension of J train service earlier due to an NYPD investigation between Broadway Junction and Broad Street.
Service is back now.
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But "back" in MTA-speak usually means "residual delays." Expect those platforms to stay crowded through the afternoon. Also, keep an eye on the 4 and 5 lines; they’ve got switch replacement projects going on that are subtly slowing down the commute between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Quick Navigation Tips for Today
- Avoid the Broadway Bridge: Use the University Heights Bridge if you can, though that’s also had intermittent testing closures lately.
- Check the FDR Schedule: If you’re traveling after 10 p.m., the single-lane squeeze is real.
- Picket Line Awareness: Stay clear of Mt. Sinai (100th & 5th) and Montefiore (Bronx) to avoid strike-related congestion.
- JFK Travelers: Use the LIRR or AirTrain. The $19 billion redevelopment at the airport has the internal roadways looking like a maze.
Navigating the Rest of the Week
Looking ahead, tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be another test. We have more rain dates scheduled for the Shore Road Bridge repairs over the Hutchinson River. If the weather holds, expect full closures there between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Also, a bit of a weird one: National Grid is doing gas work on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn tomorrow. Aside from the traffic, there might be a noticeable odor of gas. Don't panic, but maybe keep the windows up if you're driving through Bay Ridge Parkway.
Basically, the "expert" move today is to stay off the bridges and stay underground, even with the J train's morning hiccup. The city is in a state of flux—between a massive healthcare strike and a "rebuilding" phase that feels like it’ll never end.
Next Steps for a Smoother Ride:
Before you head out for the evening rush, check the Notify NYC app or the MTA Service Alerts site. Things are changing by the hour with the nursing rallies. If you’re heading to Jersey, try to leave before 10 p.m. to beat the North Tube closure at the Lincoln. If you're stuck in the congestion zone, remember that the automated camera enforcement for bus lanes is now fully active in the Bronx and Brooklyn—don't dip into those lanes to save five minutes, or you'll be looking at a hefty fine in the mail next week.