As summer travel season begins, Chaveirim of NYC & Catskills is urging families heading to the Catskills, Upstate New York, New York City, and Northern New Jersey to plan ahead and leave significantly earlier than usual on Fridays, warning that a combination of major regional events, holiday celebrations, and peak summer travel could create severe Erev Shabbos traffic delays.

The warning comes after a chaotic scene unfolded last Friday when heavy congestion from major sporting events was compounded by a truck striking an overpass on the FDR Drive, forcing authorities to completely shut down the highway just hours before Shabbos.

Tuli Jaroslawicz, a coordinator with Chaveirim of NYC & Catskills, told YWN that the closure left numerous motorists, including many frum families, trapped in standstill traffic with no way to exit.

According to Jaroslawicz, some families sat immobilized on the highway for extended periods, while others were forced to abandon their vehicles and seek alternate transportation in desperate attempts to reach their destinations before Shabbos. In one particularly difficult case, a family with children reportedly left their vehicle and walked off the highway before finding transportation, ultimately arriving home hours after the zman.

“I can’t stress it enough,” Jaroslawicz said. “This has happened countless times. Don’t plan for minor delays, plan for major delays. Leave as early as possible on Friday so you have enough time to reach your destination before Shabbos.”

Jaroslawicz said last week’s incident should serve as a wake-up call for travelers, especially with what is expected to be an unusually busy summer on roads throughout the region.

“We know there’s going to be extreme traffic this summer, even more than a typical summer,” he said. “People should not take it easy when planning their travel. Leave early, anticipate major delays, and give yourself plenty of extra time.”

According to Chaveirim, several major events are expected to impact traffic across the New York metropolitan area in the coming weeks. FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium are scheduled for June 13-16, June 22-25, June 27-30, and July 5-19, while the America 250 celebration on July 3 is expected to bring hundreds of tall ships and large crowds to New York Harbor.

Combined with regular summer travel, these events are expected to create significant congestion on major highways and crossings throughout the region, particularly on Fridays leading into Shabbos.

Areas expected to experience heavy delays include roads surrounding MetLife Stadium, major New York City highways and expressways, the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, and major Northern New Jersey roadways.

Chaveirim of NYC & Catskills is urging motorists to allow extra travel time, utilize alternate routes whenever possible, and avoid last-minute departures. The organization stressed that proper planning can help families avoid difficult situations and ensure they arrive safely and on time for Shabbos.

“Please allow extra travel time and plan accordingly,” Jaroslawicz said. “A few extra hours of planning can prevent a very stressful Erev Shabbos situation.”

(YWN World Headquarters –  NYC)