Two lanes on I-80 eastbound in Wharton Borough to reopen late Wednesday; two westbound lanes expected next week
WHARTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — Two lanes on Interstate 80 eastbound in Wharton, Morris County, are expected to reopen late Wednesday night, May 21, as repairs progress on the major highway, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced.
Paving on I-80 eastbound was completed early Tuesday morning, with the final asphalt layer applied. Once the asphalt cools and hardens, crews will stripe the roadway and install barrier curbs to separate the median work zone from traffic. The two lanes will use the right lane and the shoulder as travel lanes. The current detour via Exit 34 will be removed when the lanes reopen. A reduced speed limit of 40 mph will remain in the active work zone.
Work is also underway on I-80 westbound, where concrete slabs are curing. Once cured, crews will apply sealant and multiple asphalt layers, then stripe the roadway and install barriers. Two lanes on the westbound side are expected to reopen by the end of next week.
In the median work zone, excavation is complete, with rebar installation and framing ongoing in preparation for concrete pours, followed by sealant application and paving. All lanes in both directions are on schedule to reopen by June 25.
Two separate crews are working around the clock on eastbound and westbound repairs to expedite the project. NJDOT continues to seek ways to accelerate the timeline.
Motorists are reminded to follow posted detours and avoid cutting through local streets that are not equipped for heavy traffic.
NJDOT has created an I-80 project webpage to keep the public informed about repair progress, detours, and alternate routes. Real-time travel updates are also available at www.511nj.org.
