I-80 Sinkhole Repair Estimate Updated

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Route I-80 eastbound will remain closed for another two months, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said Friday.

The emergency repairs continue between Exit 34 and the bridge over Route 15 in Wharton and wreaks daily havoc on commuters and businesses across the region.

The ongoing drilling and grouting operations, which are working to stabilize the roadway, are now scheduled to take an additional four weeks to complete.

Traffic Easing

NJDOT is finalizing plans to build a crossover which will shift one lane of I-80 eastbound traffic onto I-80 westbound. This will reduce westbound traffic to two lanes, which will allow tractor trailers and large commercial vehicles to remain on I-80 and off of the detour and alternate routes.

Once the plan for the crossover is finalized, NJDOT anticipates the construction for it will take approximately two weeks.

These remaining projects are expected to require more time because they are closer to the areas of greatest concern.

"This type of operation requires a high degree of precision and measurements. To do so safely, the contractor is proceeding with extreme caution in the affected area," according to the NJDOT.

Repairing the sinkhole is next on the agenda, followed by quality assurance testing to ensure the long-term stability of the roadway. Plans also involve installing a monitoring system to track the surface and underground conditions as the repairs proceed, and paving the work area as a final step to ensure a safe driving surface.