All eastbound lanes of Route 3 at Main Avenue in Clifton have now reopened after days of traffic disruptions caused by a pair of accidents and extensive road repair work. Drivers who use this stretch of highway faced significant delays since Wednesday after a tanker truck grease spill led to emergency milling and paving, followed by a dump truck crash that complicated the cleanup efforts.
The situation began on Wednesday when a tanker truck traveling along Route 3 spilled grease across the roadway, creating hazardous driving conditions and damaging the pavement. Emergency crews quickly responded to the scene to contain the spill and begin cleanup. However, the greasy residue caused enough damage to the surface that the New Jersey Department of Transportation determined milling and paving were necessary to restore safe driving conditions. This work extended well into the night and created backups along the busy commuter corridor.
As crews continued addressing the spill damage into Thursday, another incident added to the troubles. A dump truck traveling through the same section of Route 3 lost control and crashed, spilling a large load of gravel onto the freshly treated area. The crash forced crews to pause and then expand their cleanup efforts, further delaying progress. The spilled gravel created additional safety risks and required heavy machinery to remove before paving could resume.
The timing of these two back to back accidents could not have been worse for commuters. With the milling and paving work already disrupting traffic, the second crash compounded the gridlock and left drivers facing long delays during the Thursday morning rush hour. Many reported being stuck for extended periods as NJDOT and emergency crews worked to clear the area. The repairs were critical, however, as both grease and gravel created unsafe road conditions that had to be fully resolved before traffic could return to normal.
NJDOT confirmed that repair work continued throughout the morning commute on Thursday as crews worked urgently to stabilize the roadway. The department emphasized that safety was its top priority and that the reopening of all eastbound lanes could only occur once the area was deemed completely safe for travel. By late morning, crews successfully completed the necessary paving and cleanup, allowing the highway to fully reopen.
Local drivers expressed frustration with the delays but acknowledged that the rapid response prevented further accidents. Clifton police and NJDOT officials coordinated traffic management while the repairs were underway, diverting vehicles where possible to minimize congestion. Still, the incident created ripple effects across nearby routes, as many drivers sought alternate ways around the closure.
The reopening of the eastbound lanes marks the conclusion of an unusually challenging two days for both commuters and road crews. A single tanker spill is already a serious hazard, but the addition of a dump truck crash in the same location forced officials to work around the clock to maintain safety. Despite the inconvenience, the swift efforts of NJDOT and local emergency teams prevented the situation from escalating further.
Looking ahead, NJDOT has indicated that additional inspections may take place in the coming weeks to ensure the durability of the repaired section. Although traffic has now resumed its normal flow, the incident highlights the vulnerability of heavily traveled routes like Route 3 to sudden disruptions. For commuters, it was a reminder of how quickly a normal drive can turn into hours of delay when accidents occur in key highway corridors.
The reopening of Route 3 provides relief to thousands of drivers who depend on it daily, restoring one of the area’s most important eastbound routes through Clifton. While the events of Wednesday and Thursday created significant challenges, the resolution underscores the importance of rapid emergency response and coordinated repair work when unexpected accidents strike New Jersey highways.
