Traffic on route 17 from I-80 to I-287 (Paramus: malls, garden)

[thebobs]

How is route 17 on a Saturday between 80 and 287 heading north? Would I be able to drive through during the day without any delays?


I looked on google maps, didn't see any traffic lights. Is that correct?

[zhelder]

No lights, but unless you leave at the crack of dawn, you’re gonna hit traffic, especially in the Paramus area by the malls. It won’t be 80E in the morning 80W in the evening rush hour traffic, but it won’t be smooth sailing either.

[1200RT]

On a Saturday? Possibly the worst day to drive on 17. Its bumper to bumper most Saturdays w/ people from other parts of NJ or the city that are not familiar/comfortable with merging from (essentially) parking lots onto active highway. Its a free-for-all. Most locals avoid travel on 17 and take back roads to the closest cross street if they're going to a business on the weekend.

Are you going somewhere specific or can yo avoid 17 w/ the parkway?

[thebobs]

Thanks for the advice. Google maps was having me go that way. Trying to find the lesser amount of all evils and head up north. I always get in a jam somewhere and delayed a few hours.


Looking at the map, could take Garden State Parkway too.

[Airborneguy]

Southbound tends to be worse in my opinion. The malls are on that side. Northbound is only really bad from 80 to a little after the parkway traffic merges in. It’s mostly smooth sailing from there to the NY border (where terrible merges cause frequent accidents).

[midnight_thunder]

Stay in the far left lane (tons of people merging on and off in Paramus) and traffic shouldn't be awful. 2-3 minutes slower is my bet.