Interstate 80 eastbound in Wharton will stay closed for at least two more months as crews work to repair damage from a sinkhole.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation says geotechnical tests are done, revealing 150 spots that need drilling and grouting to stabilize the ground. Actual sinkhole repairs haven’t even started yet.
To ease traffic, officials plan to create a “crossover” lane, shifting one eastbound lane into the westbound side. That project should take two weeks.
Detours and Alternate Routes
I-80 Eastbound Exit 34 Detour:
- Take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
- Stay right for Route 15/Jefferson/Dover/Sparta/Picatinny Arsenal
- Keep right on North Main Street, following signs for Route 15 North
- Merge onto Route 15 northbound at the traffic signal
- Stay left and follow signs for Pondview Drive/U-turns
- Make a U-turn at the Pondview Drive traffic signal and merge onto Route 15 southbound
- Stay left to take the exit back onto I-80 eastbound
Alternate Routes to Avoid the Area:
Route 10 Eastbound Alternate Route:
- Take Exit 28 to Route 46 eastbound toward Route 10
- Continue on Route 46 eastbound
- Stay right to take Route 10 eastbound
- Take the exit to I-287 northbound
- Merge onto I-80 eastbound
Route 46 Eastbound Alternate Route:
- Take Exit 28 to Route 46 eastbound
- Stay left at the traffic signal in Dover to continue on Route 46 eastbound
- Turn left onto Route 15 northbound, then merge back onto I-80
- OR continue on Route 46 eastbound for about 12 miles and merge onto 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.
