Holland Tunnel to close night tube to New Jersey until 2025 – how it will affect commuting

Thinking of overnight trips from New York to New Jersey anytime soon? If so, you may want to avoid the Holland Tunnel for the next few years.

This is due to the fact that starting on February 5, traffic in New Jersey will be closed at night. The closure, which lasts from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. six nights a week, will last until 2025, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Tuesday.

The reason for the closure of this 2.6-mile section of the tunnel is critical repairs to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy as well as resiliency projects to protect against future storms, the Port Authority said.

The agency reported that 30 million gallons of brackish water entered the baths through New Jersey portals in October 2012. Some of the components that are still damaged include: safe walkways and handrails; curb drainage; structural steel; air ducts; retaining walls made of granite blocks; exhaust channels; fire detection and extinguishing systems; pump rooms; lighting and corroded parts of the elevator; voice communication system and fiber optic cables.

The only night there is no scheduled closure will be Saturday evening. For those who need to get to New Jersey, the Port Authority recommends using the George Washington Bridge in Upper Manhattan or the Lincoln Tunnel if heading into Hudson or Essex counties. To get to Staten Island or southern New Jersey, use the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Goethals or Bayonne Bridges or Outerbridge.

Meanwhile, overnight traffic suspensions to New York City will end at 5 a.m. Feb. 4, when repairs come to an end.