Morning rush hour at the GWB? (university, train, rain)

[Moosicman]

I need to pick up my cousin from college Tuesday morning at Fordham University. I have done the trip many times the past two semesters so I know how bad traffic can be. But, I have never done the morning rush hour. I need to be there around 8am. What is traffic like in Patterson to the GWB around 730am? Right at Patterson is where traffic starts to become an issue for me on week days when I visit her. So I'm thinking of leaving Scranton,PA at 515am, would that get me over the bridge at 730am without hitting rush hour? Or should I leave a little earlier?

[DarkWolf]

moderate to Bad , very thick ......doesn't ease out till 8.30 or 9am....This is why we need a Train to Scranton LOL

[Moosicman]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

moderate to Bad , very thick ......doesn't ease out till 8.30 or 9am....This is why we need a Train to Scranton LOL

What time does the major backup start. If needed I will leave 430am and be at the bridge by 615am, but that seems a little to early for the bridge to be crowded.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by Moosicman

What time does the major backup start. If needed I will leave 430am and be at the bridge by 615am, but that seems a little to early for the bridge to be crowded.

As early as 5 or 6am depends on the day , if you knew your way around , you could take surface streets to get around the traffic. There are 2 entrances that only locals know about , they can save you up to 1hr hr at the max.

[NY Annie]

The problem is this: if you are just 15 min later, it could wind up costing you an hour in travel time. From the reports I hear in the AMs, sometimes the bridge is already in relatively heavy traffic by 6 am. Why do you have to be there at 8 am - later would be better

[Moosicman]

Originally Posted by NY Annie

The problem is this: if you are just 15 min later, it could wind up costing you an hour in travel time. From the reports I hear in the AMs, sometimes the bridge is already in relatively heavy traffic by 6 am. Why do you have to be there at 8 am - later would be better

My cousins last final is at 8am and I'd like to have the whole room moved out by the time the test is over so we can get out of town. Looks like I'll leave at 4:45 and risk it.

[ansky]

Have you considered taking the Tappan Zee bridge instead? It's a little out of the way but might save you some time - just head down I-87 after crossing the bridge. I have never driven it during rush hour but I would think it would be lighter traffic than the GW. Another option would be to take I-84 from Scranton over to the Bear Mountain bridge and then come down I-684.

[Moosicman]

Originally Posted by ansky

Have you considered taking the Tappan Zee bridge instead? It's a little out of the way but might save you some time - just head down I-87 after crossing the bridge. I have never driven it during rush hour but I would think it would be lighter traffic than the GW. Another option would be to take I-84 from Scranton over to the Bear Mountain bridge and then come down I-684.

I have done both of those options, going either of those ways add extra miles and the times would probably equal out. Traveling over the Tappan Zee and the going down the Bronx river parkway will probably add 40 minutes, and probably an extra hour to take 684 since its farther out of the way. So they would both just about equal the GW. I'm willing to risk leaving here at 4:40/4:45 and maybe hit traffic at 6:25/6:30 at the GW.