I-80 eastbound to fully reopen Saturday morning in Wharton Borough ahead of schedule after sinkhole repairs, Gov. Murphy says
WHARTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — All lanes of Interstate 80 eastbound are set to fully reopen Saturday morning, four days ahead of schedule, as crews wrap up months of repairs to address sinkhole damage, Gov. Phil Murphy announced.
Starting at 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, I-80 eastbound will close at Exit 34 in Wharton for final paving and striping. The closure is expected to last until 9 a.m. Saturday, June 21, when all three eastbound lanes will reopen. I-80 westbound fully reopened last weekend.
“I am thrilled to see all lanes of I-80 open safely this weekend so we can ensure that New Jerseyans can get to where they need to go efficiently and safely,” Murphy said. “Importantly, I want to thank the thousands of New Jerseyans who have been impacted by these sinkholes for their patience as we worked to secure this roadway. I also want to thank NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor, the NJDOT crews, and the New Jersey State Police who have worked around the clock to open this highway safely.”
“With the reopening of all lanes on I-80 eastbound this Saturday, full mobility will be restored on I-80 in both directions ahead of schedule,” O’Connor said. “The repairs are permanent, and I am confident that the highway is now stronger and safer than it was before the first sinkhole developed.”
Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco called the reopening “a relief” and praised the community’s patience. “From commuters and residents to local businesses, everyone worked together and showed tremendous patience,” Bucco said.
Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn said the project highlights the need for continued investment. “Now we turn our focus to the long-term work of strengthening our infrastructure so that we can better prevent emergencies like this,” she said.
Assemblyman Christian Barranco added, “While the pain of this closure was felt throughout the district, NJDOT provided a masterclass on project management from beginning to end being able to open ahead of schedule with a beautiful new roadway.”
Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for detour routes during the overnight closure and for real-time traffic updates.
