The massive sinkhole that has shut down eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 in New Jersey’s Morris County since last week will take another three weeks to repair, officials said.
“DOT has found other problems with the integrity of the roadway,” said Bill Chegwidden, the mayor of nearby Wharton, in a statement. “The state is estimating another three weeks of closure. Thanks for your patience. Wharton strong.”
The 11-by-11-foot, 4-foot-deep hole began opening up on Feb. 10, prompting the closure. Authorities at first hoped to fix it by the next morning’s commute, but the road fully collapsed as they took borings to gauge the extent of the damage, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said at the time.
Since then the state DOT has said only that “I-80 eastbound will remain closed until further notice,” suggesting alternative routes and advising motorists to “expect delays.”
On Monday Assemblywoman Aura Dunn told NJ Advance Media that testing had revealed additional structural issues. The Roxbury Township Police Department said DOT crews were “working diligently” to repair the road but that “the issue will not be resolved this week.”
Crews working around the clock to stabilize the roadway have identified drilling locations, drilled 11 of them and filled four, NJ Advance Media reported.
Though the latest sinkhole is about 75 feet from one that shut down the same highway stretch for four days in late December, that repair remains stable, state transportation officials said. However the newer sinkhole, like its predecessor, appears to be related to a collapsed shaft from one of several abandoned mines dotting the region, Bucco said.
