Traffic on the southbound New York State Thruway in Nyack returned to normal after a tractor‑trailer fire created hours of delays near the Mario Cuomo Bridge.

The fire started around 3:30 a.m. when a Costco 18‑wheeler experienced a brake fire that left the truck fully engulfed. State police said the driver escaped unharmed. Firefighters had difficulty putting out the flames because they reignited several times, and crews had to offload the truck's cargo before the rig could be removed.

Four lanes of traffic were forced into one open lane for much of the morning, leading to miles of backups. Drivers tried to get around the delays, clogging roads in and around Nyack.

Police were able to open more lanes after 8 a.m., but the backlog took time to clear. Traffic is now moving normally.

There is no word on what caused the brake fire.