If you’ve lived in North Jersey or Manhattan for more than five minutes, you know the drill. You check the GPS, see a sea of red on I-495, and start calculating if you’d be faster just swimming across the Hudson. But traffic at Lincoln Tunnel today is actually behaving a bit weirdly, and if you’re planning to cross right now, you might be in for a surprise.
It’s Sunday, January 18, 2026. Usually, Sundays are the "calm before the storm" of the Monday morning commute, but we’re currently sitting in the middle of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. Honestly, that changes everything.
What’s Actually Happening Right Now?
As of early this morning, the Port Authority is reporting light traffic into New York, with crossing times hovering around 6 minutes. You’re looking at average speeds of about 38 mph through the tubes. That is basically a miracle.
But don't get too comfortable.
Because it’s a holiday weekend, the typical "rush hour" doesn't exist today. Instead, we see what experts like to call "leisure surge." People are sleeping in, grabbing brunch in Hoboken, and then deciding all at once around 1:00 PM that they need to be in Midtown.
Yesterday, we saw wait times jump from 5 minutes to 15 minutes in the span of a single hour. Expect that same volatility today.
The Tube Shuffle
You’ve got to keep an eye on which tubes are actually open. The Port Authority has been aggressive with maintenance lately. Just this past week, they were shutting down the North or Center tubes almost every night between 11 PM and 5 AM.
According to the latest travel advisories for the week of Jan 16-22, here is the schedule you need to care about:
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- Tonight (Sunday into Monday): The Center Tube is scheduled to close at 12:01 AM and won't reopen until 5 AM.
- Tomorrow (MLK Day): Expect the Center Tube to close again late Monday night.
- Tuesday/Wednesday: The South and Center tubes take turns shutting down for overnight work.
If you are a night owl or a late-shift worker, this is a massive headache. When a tube closes, all NY-bound traffic gets shoved into the South tube, and NJ-bound traffic gets squeezed into the North tube. It’s a bottleneck waiting to happen.
The MLK Day Factor and the XBL
Since tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the traffic at Lincoln Tunnel today is influenced by a lot of people staying put or taking an extra day off.
One big thing: The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL).
Usually, that 2.5-mile stretch of contra-flow magic saves about 10-15 minutes for commuters coming off the NJ Turnpike. But the XBL is a weekday morning beast. It doesn't run on weekends. Since tomorrow is a federal holiday, NJ Transit has already flagged that many services will be running on a modified or holiday schedule.
If you're planning to take the bus tomorrow instead of driving, check the NJ Transit "Happening Now" alerts. They’ve already confirmed that most transit services will be modified for the holiday.
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Those New Toll Rates (Yeah, They’re Higher)
If you haven't been through the tunnel yet in 2026, I have some bad news for your wallet. New toll rates kicked in on January 4, 2026.
Basically, if you’re a "Tolls by Mail" person, you’re paying $17.00 for a Class 1 vehicle. If you have E-ZPass, you’re saving a decent chunk, but it still stings. The Port Authority is currently in a public comment period (until February 13) regarding the rules and regulations for these crossings, so if you've got feelings about the price or the traffic flow, now is technically the time to speak up.
Real-Time Survival Guide
So, how do you actually get through without losing your mind?
- The "15-Minute Rule": If you see a 5-minute delay on your app, assume it will be 20 by the time you reach the helix. The ramp from the NJ Turnpike (Interchange 17E) is notorious for sudden backups due to disabled vehicles.
- Avoid the "Mid-Day Peak": On holiday Sundays, the worst traffic is consistently between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. If you can cross before noon or after 8:00 PM, you’ll save yourself a lot of brake-riding.
- Check the "Western Spur": If you’re coming from the south, the Western Spur of the Turnpike has seen a lot of barrier repairs and milling lately near Interchange 15W. Sometimes it's actually faster to take the Eastern Spur toward the tunnel, even if the mileage is slightly higher.
Actionable Steps for Your Drive
Before you put the car in gear, do these three things:
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- Sync with the Port Authority Alerts: Don't just rely on Google Maps. Check the official @PANYNJ_LT Twitter (X) feed or their website. They post the specific tube closures that GPS sometimes misses until you’re already stuck in the wrong lane.
- Update your E-ZPass: With the new Jan 4th rates, make sure your auto-replenish is actually working. Getting a "low balance" light at the toll gantry is a great way to start a trip with a spike in blood pressure.
- Watch the Weather: We're in mid-January. Even a "dusting" of snow in Weehawken turns the helix into a skating rink. Keep an eye on the temp; if it drops below freezing tonight during the tube closures, those transition ramps get slick fast.
The traffic at Lincoln Tunnel today is manageable for now, but with the holiday tomorrow and the scheduled midnight tube closure, the window for a "fast" trip is closing. Plan to be through the tunnel by 10 PM tonight if you want to avoid the maintenance crawl.