I-80 To Fully Reopen Earlier Than Expected: See When

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — After over six months of delays, detours, and frustration, I-80 is expected to fully reopen this weekend, earlier than expected.

According to the NJ Department of Transportation, I-80 eastbound lanes will be fully open this Saturday, June 21, at 9 a.m., weather permitting. Westbound lanes were fully reopened last weekend, 11 days ahead of projections.

All lanes were initially scheduled to be fully operational on June 25.

In order to open Saturday, eastbound lanes will be fully closed Friday night for “final paving and striping.”

Beginning Friday, June 20, at 9 p.m., all eastbound lanes will be closed and detoured at Exit 34/Wharton/Dover/Sparta, according to officials.

Below are the Exit 34 detour directions provided by the NJ DOT:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are being directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
• At the end of the ramp, stay right following signs for Route 15/Jefferson/Dover/Sparta/Picatinny Arsenal
• Stay in the right lane on North Main Street following signs for Route 15 North/Jefferson/Sparta
• Bear right toward Route 15 northbound/Picatinny Arsenal
• At the traffic signal, merge onto Route 15 northbound
• Stay left, following signs for Pondview Drive/U and Left Turns
• Using both lanes, make a U-turn at the Pondview Drive traffic signal and merge onto Route
15 southbound
• Stay left to take the exit to I-80 eastbound

“I am thrilled to see all lanes of I-80 open safely this weekend so we can ensure that New Jerseyans can get to where they need to go efficiently and safely,” Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement. "Importantly, I want to thank the thousands of New Jerseyans who have been impacted by these sinkholes for their patience as we worked to secure this roadway. I also want to thank NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor, the NJDOT crews, and the New Jersey State Police who have worked around the clock to open this highway safely."

The I-80 traffic issues are a result of several sinkholes that formed after an abandoned mineshaft collapsed in December 2024. Since then, motorists have been dealing with delays and detours while the NJDOT has been working 24 hours a day to repair the roadwork.

State officials have called for action following I-80’s sinkhole issues, rallying for legislature to account for abandoned mines in major highway areas, and for the Department of Environmental Protection to be more involved in the process.

See related story: State Officials Call For 'Swift Action' Following I-80 Sinkhole Crisis

“The re-opening of I-80 eastbound ahead of schedule is a testament to the extraordinary commitment of our transportation professionals,” Assemblywoman Aura Dunn said. “I want to thank the NJDOT team and all of the crews on the ground for working tirelessly, often through adverse conditions, to restore this critical corridor. Now we turn our focus to the long-term work of strengthening our infrastructure so that we can better prevent emergencies like this.”

The NJDOT has created a timeline for motorists and residents to track the repair schedule.