What Happened
A crash on westbound I-495 in Queens County blocked two right lanes on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The incident was classified as minor in severity, according to the Long Island Traffic incident registry. No exact time of the lane closure was immediately available from official sources.
The two blocked right lanes forced westbound traffic to merge left through the affected stretch of the Long Island Expressway in Queens. No agency had publicly confirmed injuries, vehicle counts, or the precise cause of the collision as of the initial report.
Location & Road Context
I-495, the Long Island Expressway, runs through Queens County before crossing into Nassau County to the east. According to Long Island Traffic’s incident registry, I-495 has recorded 114 incidents in the past 30 days and 395 incidents so far in 2026, making this corridor among the most active for traffic incidents in the region.
A separate moderate crash on I-495 also occurred on August 20. The most recent prior fatal crash on this corridor was recorded August 11, 2026.
Broader Impact
Four additional incidents hit I-495 in the 24 hours before this crash: a vehicle fire on August 19, a moderate crash on August 19, and two minor crashes also on August 19. Drivers on westbound I-495 through Queens should expect residual congestion until lanes fully reopen.