Two eastbound lanes on Interstate 80 are expected to reopen late Wednesday night in Wharton, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The agency added that work is progressing on I-80 westbound, and two lanes are scheduled to open by the end of next week.
The eastbound closure of I-80 began on Feb. 10 after a sinkhole appeared by exit 34. That stretch of Route 80 was built over a former mine. The sinkhole is located a few feet from another sinkhole that shut the same area of the road last December.
NJDOT said that work in the median is advancing with all lanes in both directions on schedule to reopen by June 25. Work is proceeding with two separate crews with one working on the eastbound side and one on the westbound lanes. Crews will continue working 24 hours a day until repairs are completed, and the highway reopened.
Paving on the eastbound side was completed early Tuesday morning. Once the asphalt has cooled and hardened, the roadway will be striped and a barrier curb will be installed to separate the median work zone from the two lanes of traffic, which will be using the right lane and the shoulder as a travel lane. Two lanes on I-80 eastbound are expected to reopen late Wednesday night. Once the lanes reopen, the I-80 eastbound detour utilizing exit 34 will be removed. The speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph from 65 mph on I-80 eastbound through the work zone.
The concrete slabs on I-80 westbound are in the process of curing. Once that is complete, a sealant has to be applied to the concrete, which cannot be done if it is raining, and then paving multiple layers of asphalt will take place. Rain is in the forecast Wednesday through Friday for the Wharton region. The roadway will then be striped and a barrier curb will be installed to separate the median work zone from the two lanes of traffic, which will be using the right lane and the shoulder as a travel lane. Two lanes on I-80 westbound are on schedule to be reopened by the end of next week.
The agency reminded motorists to use the signed detours for I-80 westbound and not cut through local streets that are unable to handle trucks and additional traffic. NJDOT has created an I-80 project web page to keep the public informed about the progress of repairs.
Last week, The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board approved an additional $500,000 to expand the Route 80 Business Assistance Grant Program, which supports small businesses impacted by the Interstate 80 detours caused by the ongoing sinkhole repairs.
In April, the Small Business Administration said it extended the Business Recovery Center closure deadline to May 6 for disaster loans for businesses impacted by the sinkholes on Interstate 80 near Wharton that first appeared last December.
