New Sinkhole Closes Route 80 In Both Directions

Story last updated: 7:20 p.m.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Route 80 is closed in both directions as another sinkhole has opened on the thoroughfare, officials said Wednesday.

“Area mayors were just advised that NJ DOT had just shut down all westbound lanes to Route 80 West due to another sinkhole being found,” Jefferson Mayor Eric Wilsusen said.

Originally, starting at 8 Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday, the right lane on I-80 traveling westbound was scheduled to be closed before Exit 34B in Wharton. Two lanes were to remain open for motorists.

Work was scheduled to remove the rumble strips along the shoulder of I-80. The work is needed to prepare for the construction of a crossover to shift one lane of I-80 eastbound onto I-80 westbound.

New Jersey Department of Transportation makes the following recommendations for alternate routes:

I-80 eastbound Exit 34 Detour:

• 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

Traffic is advised to use Exit 28 to take Route 10 eastbound, or Route 46 eastbound as an alternate route to avoid the area:

Route 10 eastbound Alternate Route:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
• Continue on Route 46 eastbound

• Stay right to take Route 10 eastbound
• Take the exit to I-287 northbound
• Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 eastbound

Route 46 eastbound Alternate Route:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
• Continue on Route 46 eastbound
• Stay in the two left lanes to turn left at the traffic signal to continue on Route 46 eastbound
• Turn left onto Route 15 northbound in Dover, back to I-80

Patch will update this story when more information is available.