A Route 80 sinkhole in Wharton forced the closure of all eastbound lanes on Interstate 80 near Exit 34 for Route 15. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) confirmed the closure early Monday morning, advising drivers to use alternate routes.
Authorities have not provided an estimated reopening time. Traffic delays of up to 30 minutes were reported in the area.
Officials have not determined the cause of the Route 80 sinkhole, nor have they confirmed if any vehicles were affected. No injuries have been reported. Drivers should expect congestion and stay updated on traffic reports.
Recent History of Route 80 Sinkholes
This Route 80 sinkhole appears just two months after a massive sinkhole in Wharton shut down part of the highway for days. That incident involved a collapse roughly the size and depth of a four-story building.
Investigators later determined the December sinkhole resulted from an abandoned mineshaft collapse. Repairs took four days, causing significant detours and delays.
At the time, NJDOT crews worked “around the clock” to restore the highway as fast as possible.
“I commend the NJDOT and contractors for their tireless efforts to reopen Interstate 80 quickly and safely,” said Commissioner Fran O’Connor. “Considering the extent of the damage, the speed of repairs was remarkable.”
