All eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 are closed in Wharton after transportation officials discovered a depression in the roadway Monday morning.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation said the issue was found in the center eastbound lane around 6:45 a.m., prompting the closure out of caution. Crews are on site assessing the situation, and the highway will remain closed until further notice.
This follows a December incident when a 40-foot sinkhole opened in the same area due to a collapsed abandoned mineshaft. The region contains multiple former iron mines dating back to the 1800s, according to state records. Officials have not confirmed whether the current depression is related.
Traffic backups stretched eight miles by 8 a.m. Eastbound drivers are being detoured at Exit 34 onto Route 15. Alternate routes include Route 46 and Route 10.
No estimated timeline for reopening has been provided.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.