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A newly discovered sinkhole has led to the closure of Interstate 80 in both directions in Wharton on Wednesday (March 19). Originally, scheduled work was planned for the westbound lanes to remove rumble strips and prepare for lane shifts to alleviate traffic detouring from the eastbound closure. However, the sinkhole's emergence necessitated the additional shutdown of all westbound lanes, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
NJDOT has been detouring traffic using Route 15, Route 10, and Route 46 to manage traffic flow. They are working with local officials and the New Jersey State Police to improve mobility along these routes and have adjusted traffic signal timings to help alleviate congestion. The department is also using technology to inform commercial truckers and drivers about the closure and alternate routes.
The sinkhole that originally opened in the eastbound lanes prompted emergency repairs, with crews working around the clock to address the issue. NJDOT was finalizing plans to build a crossover that would shift one lane of I-80 eastbound traffic onto the westbound side, reducing westbound traffic to two lanes. The construction was expected to take approximately two weeks, but those plans are now unclear due to the emergence of the new sinkhole.