For Immediate Release:
February 18, 2025
Contact: Jim Barry
Steve Schapiro
609-963-1975
I-80 westbound to be closed tonight for additional testing in Wharton, Morris CountyState Police assisting with traffic control during rush hour on Route 46, Route 10, and Route 15
(Trenton) – I-80 westbound is scheduled to be closed tonight at Exit 34B for additional roadway testing as emergency sinkhole repairs continue on I-80 eastbound in Wharton, Morris County. In addition, New Jersey State Police began manually controlling several traffic signals on Route 46, Route 10, and Route 15 during rush hour to help ease congestion. A detailed update is below.
Tuesday, February 18
Beginning at 10 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, February 18 until 6 a.m. Wednesday, February 19, I-80 westbound is scheduled to be closed and detoured at Exit 34B in Wharton. The closure is necessary for additional roadway testing. If work is completed early, I-80 westbound will reopen sooner. The following detours will be in place Tuesday night:
I-80 westbound 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 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 – Tuesday night:
Motorists on I-80 eastbound will be directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
Turn left following signs for Wharton
Turn left onto East Dewey Avenue/CR 642 eastbound
Turn left onto Route 15 northbound
Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 eastbound
Wednesday, February 19
Beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday, February 19, when I-80 westbound is scheduled to be reopened at Exit 34B, the I-80 eastbound Exit 34 detour that began on Saturday will resume. The new I-80 eastbound Exit 34 detour will be in place until further notice:
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
Update and Background
I-80 eastbound was closed and detoured at Exit 34 in Wharton, Morris County on Monday, February 10 after a depression in the center lane was observed. While NJDOT crews were conducting boring tests a sinkhole opened up on Monday night. NJDOT crews excavated and stabilized the 11-foot by 11-foot sinkhole that was approximately four-feet deep on Tuesday night, February 11. The compromised roadway is 75 feet away from the sinkhole repair completed in December. The area where that sinkhole was repaired is stable.
The Department has been conducting testing on I-80 eastbound since Monday, February 10, despite several snow, rain, and freezing weather events, to assess conditions beneath the highway. Initial testing of the I-80 westbound roadway was conducted Friday night, February 14 and Saturday morning, February 15. Additional testing is ongoing using a variety of methods to further evaluate the subsurface conditions. This section of Route 80 eastbound and westbound is continuously being scanned and monitored using advanced remote sensing technology.
On Sunday, during the testing, another significant void was identified. This location was filled with grout on Monday. A subsurface void is an empty space or cavity that exists underground. It is not a sinkhole.
The Department will continue its assessment, while developing an appropriate design and repair.
Early indications are that the repair will take a minimum of several weeks. All work remains weather dependent, making it difficult to determine a precise timeline for completion. Crews will continue to work 24 hours a day to complete these repairs as safely and efficiently as possible.
NJDOT is working closely with local officials to coordinate detours and alternate routes in order to minimize the disruption of additional traffic in the neighboring communities. Starting yesterday, Monday, February 17, New Jersey State Police began manually controlling several traffic signals on Route 46, Route 10, and Route 15. They will continue to do so on weekdays during the morning and evening rush hours to improve traffic flow. NJDOT also has adjusted the timing of several signals in the area to help ease congestion.
A new I-80 eastbound detour was implemented on Saturday, February 15 at the request of, and in coordination with, local officials to minimize the disruption of additional traffic in the neighboring communities. We ask motorists to avoid the area and be patient while repairs are being made. Details of the new detour are below.
All I-80 eastbound traffic is currently being detoured at Exit 34 as detailed above. However, traffic is advised to use Exit 28 to take Route 46 eastbound or Route 10 eastbound as an alternate route to avoid the area. This exit is several miles before the closure:
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 left two 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
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