An overturned tractor-trailer shut down Interstate 80 in both directions in Denville Township early Monday morning, tying up one of Morris County’s busiest commuter routes through the heart of the rush hour.
The crash was reported at about 4:39 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 7, just east of Exit 39 for Route 53, according to traffic officials. All lanes in both directions were closed when the first alerts went out.
Crews worked through the morning to clear the overturned rig, and the lanes reopened in stages. By 6:41 a.m., all eastbound lanes were still shut down and three of the four westbound lanes remained closed, according to traffic alerts. By 8:19 a.m., three of four westbound lanes and two of four eastbound lanes were still blocked.
Drivers were told to expect delays in the area for much of the morning.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone was hurt in the crash, and officials had not released details on what caused the tractor-trailer to overturn.
Interstate 80 runs straight through Denville and carries a steady mix of commuter and commercial truck traffic across Morris County. Crashes along the stretch near Exit 39, where Route 53 and Route 46 feed into the highway, routinely back traffic up into neighboring towns.
We will update this story if authorities release more information.
