Monday, November 19, 2012

Question Of The Day: Smith And Clinton Traffic Insanity

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In an email to PMFA, reader Justin S. writes:
"I have been noticing in the past few days that traffic on both Smith and Clinton Streets is backed up for miles. Does anyone have any idea why?"

I was wondering the same thing. My husband and I were stuck on Smith Street over the week-end. Traffic was insane. I have not seen it like that in a very long time.




9 comments:

Sebastian said...

I believe the Hugh L. Carey (Ne Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel is still closed, is it not? All traffic is being routed over the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and Clinton and Smith are two ways to get to them.

Sarah Westcott said...

Is it possible that it's because the tunnel's been closed? So traffic from the south is making their way to the bridges? Traffic heading in that direction has been backed up on 3rd Ave. too.

Anonymous said...

It is obviously the tunnel being out, but even on a normal day, drivers jump off the expressway to avoid traffic and tolls.

If we had congestion pricing, our neighborhood could stop being a sewer for traffic, lured by the free East River bridges.

Katia said...

The tunnel has been closed since Sandy and traffic has certainly increased because of it, but there definitely seemed to be even more congestion over the week-end.
There were additional buses on Smith Street because of the F/G train suspension. That may have contributed as well.

Paul said...

For the last week or two, a single tunnel tube has been open on week days, but the entire tunnel has been closed on weekends for ongoing repairs. This would would account for the mad weekend traffic in the neighborhood (especially since a lot of people might have thought the tunnel to be open, and then were diverted when they got there). As of this morning (Nov 19), the tunnel is open 24/7, though there still may be some off-hours closures.

http://www.mta.info/news/stories/?story=876

knithound brooklyn said...

The traffic in Park Slope was also insane, not just over the weekend but all last week as well. I thought it might be a combination of the Tunnel closure and Barclay Center events. It was bumper to bumper well beyond 9PM, on multiple streets and in various directions.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info. Hopefully the reopening will clear things up.

Anonymous said...

I live in Kensington and the traffic is hell here as well. I noticed it all of last week and it still has not improved.

DeeGee said...

I heard that it was due to the Barclay Center. Lot's of overflow of people going to and coming from center. There is not direct access to an expressway from the Center, so all traffic flows through local streets. What a nightmare.