What Happened
Two lanes on the Long Island Expressway westbound were shut down Thursday morning after a crash in Westbury, according to 511NY as reported by Patch.
The incident was recorded at approximately 9:28 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026, approaching Exit 39 — Glen Cove Road, which provides access to North Hempstead. Patch published the report at 10:03 a.m. ET, roughly 35 minutes after the crash time logged by 511NY.
The two-lane closure on a heavily traveled stretch of westbound I-495 during the late morning commute window would have significantly restricted traffic flow. No details regarding the vehicles involved, the number of occupants, injuries, or the cause of the collision were included in the initial 511NY advisory cited by Patch.
Location & Road Context
Exit 39 — Glen Cove Road sits in the heart of Nassau County’s Westbury area, where the LIE carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic between eastern Long Island and New York City. The Long Island Expressway has logged 1,845 recorded incidents in Long Island Traffic’s database, making it one of the most crash-prone corridors on the Island. Thursday alone saw multiple separate crashes on I-495, including additional moderate and minor incidents recorded the same morning.
Broader Impact
The westbound lane closures near Exit 39 fell during a stretch of the morning when LIE traffic volumes remain elevated, compounding delays for commuters traveling toward Queens and the city. Drivers approaching the Glen Cove Road interchange from the east were advised to anticipate slowdowns and consider alternate routes through the area.