WHARTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) – A stretch of Interstate 80 in Morris County, New Jersey, that’s been plagued by sinkholes in recent months will be closed for at least “several weeks,” an official said, as crews investigate up to 90 “voids” lurking below the surface.
The potential voids— an empty space or cavity underground—are separate from the monster sinkholes that closed eastbound I-80 in Wharton twice since December.
The first 40-by-40-foot sinkhole opened on Dec. 26 and took four days to repair, with officials ultimately determining it was caused by the collapse of an abandoned mineshaft.
Then last Monday, a second 11-by-11-foot sinkhole emerged just 75 feet away at Exit 34/Route 15.
Wharton Mayor Bill Chegwidden said earlier this week that the state was estimating “another three weeks of closures” to fix the second sinkhole and assess “other problems with the integrity of the roadway.”
As the repairs continued, the New Jersey Department of Transportation “identified 90 locations to be assessed and mitigate potential instability or possible voids.”
Assemblywoman Aura Dunn told the Daily Record the repairs “will take a minimum of several weeks” and be weather dependent, making an exact timeline difficult.
"We were just here a couple of weeks ago," Dunn said. "We don't want it to be Whack-a-Mole."
Morris County has more than 100 abandoned mines, according to a 2020 report.
The report distinguishes subsurface voids from sinkholes, saying the former leads to the latter: "Over time the voids will enlarge until the roof over the void is unable to support the land above will collapse forming a sinkhole."
As the repairs continue, the DOT has set up multiple detours through the area:
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 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 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
New 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