Several years ago I contacted the NY/NJ Trail Conference about re-routing the A.T. to avoid the highway crossing (PIP). Their response was that 'it's not really a problem since you're crossing only one direction at a time. When I crossed on my 'thru-hike' across the park, I hit it at a good time, but I couldn't imagine crossing the highway during the rush, especially at dusk or later.
So they finally re-routed over 1779 and AW to cross on the bridge at Anthony Wayne. You miss out on the West Mountain ridge, but honestly, it's not so spectacular, except during the fall with the leaves; and you now have a much longer hike off the A.T. on the TT (blue) to get to the shelter at the south end of the ridge, but I think the re-route makes a lot of sense.
I just hope that it wasn't an accident involving a hiker that finally got them to do the reroute.

Ethan