Reopening Some Of I-80 May Be Sooner Than You Think In Morris County

PARSIPPANY, NJ — As western Morris County strains under the burden of the traffic being shunted from the section of Interstate 80 shuttered by sinkholes, Governor Phil Murphy told News12 on Tuesday that relief may be coming sooner than later.

"Our folks think they can open two westbound lanes by the end of the week. That’s going to be subject to testing," Murphy said.

Eastbound lanes, however, may take six weeks or more to reopen.

The Interstate has been closed after three sinkholes emerged last week on the highway.

Patch previously reported that NJ Transit started offering 50 percent discounts for riders at select stations.

According to Murphy, NJ Transit added 130 more riders since Friday, thanks to the discount.

Commuters aren't the only ones hurting from the I-80 closures.

In the News12 "Ask Gov. Murphy" segment, Murphy said he is looking for relief for small businesses similar to COVID protocols.

"Our Economic Development Authority is looking into small business programs," he added. "Akin to the playbook we used during COVID."

Murphy also addressed small business owners in the areas impacted by I-80. "We need at least five small businesses to come together to make an application to the Small Business Administration," he told News12.

For now, the following I-80 detours are still in place:

I-80 westbound Exit 34B Detour:

• Motorists on I-80 westbound will be directed to take Exit 34B to Route 15 north/Jefferson/Sparta
• Keep left on Route 15 northbound
• Use the left two left lanes at Pondview Drive to make a U-turn onto Route 15 southbound
• Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 westbound

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. This exit is several miles before the closure.

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

Or:

• Continue on Route 46 eastbound for about 12 miles and stay left for I-80 eastbound