WHARTON, NEW JERSEY (WABC) – The westbound lanes of Interstate 80 will be closed overnight Friday in Morris County, New Jersey, for repair and inspection work aimed at preventing further sinkholes from forming along the highway.
In the past six weeks, two sinkholes have appeared on I-80, prompting crews to work around the clock to address the issue.
Beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, February 14, until 5 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, I-80 westbound will be closed and detoured at Exit 34B in Wharton for roadway testing. If work is completed ahead of schedule, the highway will reopen sooner.
I-80 Westbound Detour:
- Motorists traveling westbound will be directed to take Exit 34B to Route 15 North (Jefferson/Sparta).
- Keep left on Route 15 Northbound.
- Use the two left lanes at Pondview Drive to make a U-turn onto Route 15 Southbound.
- Stay right to take the ramp back to I-80 Westbound.
I-80 Eastbound Exit 34 Detour – Friday Night:
- Motorists traveling eastbound will be directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15 (Wharton/Dover/Sparta).
- Turn left, following signs for Wharton.
- Turn left onto East Dewey Avenue/CR 642 Eastbound.
- Turn left onto Route 15 Northbound.
- Stay right to take the ramp back to I-80 Eastbound.
I-80 eastbound was previously closed and detoured at Exit 34 in Wharton, Morris County, on Monday, February 10, after a depression was observed in the center lane.
During NJDOT’s boring tests, a sinkhole opened on Monday night. By Tuesday night, crews had excavated and stabilized the 11-foot by 11-foot, four-foot-deep sinkhole.
Roadway testing continues to assess the extent of necessary repairs. The New Jersey Department of Transportation reported that another sinkhole that formed in December is just 75 feet from this latest one.
The site of the December sinkhole repair has been deemed stable. However, I-80 eastbound will remain closed until further notice as testing and repairs continue.
