Traffic or political pressure? Port Authority to probe bridge lane closings

    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s inspector general will investigate why access lanes to the George Washington Bridge were closed.

    The closures stalled traffic.

    Some New Jersey Democrats claim the unannounced closings took place over four days in September to try to pressure the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee to endorse Republican Gov. Chris Christie for re-election.

    Christie has denied it and a Christie appointee, who is deputy executive director of the bi-state agency, told a legislative hearing the lanes were closed for a traffic study.

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    The order to close the lanes came from another Christie appointee, who has resigned.

    Lead investigator Michael Nestor tells The Star-Ledger of Newark the inspector general’s office will interview everyone involved and get to the bottom of what happened.

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