Black Friday Crowds Bring Woodbury Common to Full Capacity, Forcing Exit Closures

By Yisroel R.

Woodbury Common hit full capacity early Friday morning as massive Black Friday crowds overwhelmed the shopping center, prompting New York State Police to close all major exits leading into the area.

At around 9:35 AM, State Police shut down all exits into Woodbury off State Route 17 at Exit 131 and from U.S. Route 6 at State Route 32 to prevent additional gridlock. The move came as traffic backups grew rapidly, with thousands of Black Friday shoppers attempting to enter the popular outlet center.

Woodbury Common, located in Central Valley, is one of the largest outlet malls in the country, known for luxury and designer stores that draw enormous crowds on major shopping days.

With the primary exits closed, traffic on Route 17 is being diverted to Exits 130 and 129, pushing vehicles into Monroe and Blooming Grove. Motorists in those towns should expect heavy congestion as overflow traffic fills local roads.

Drivers traveling on the New York State Thruway (I-87) are also experiencing delays, particularly near Exit 16 in Harriman. Officials expect traffic to remain slow throughout the day as Black Friday shopping continues.

Authorities are advising drivers to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes while congestion remains high across the Woodbury and Monroe area.