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WHARTON, N.J. – The eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 (I-80) in Wharton, Morris County, will remain closed for approximately two more months as emergency repairs continue following severe roadway damage, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced.
As part of the ongoing repairs, NJDOT is finalizing a crossover design that will shift one lane of I-80 eastbound traffic onto I-80 westbound, reducing westbound traffic to two lanes. This shift aims to keep large commercial vehicles and tractor-trailers on the highway and off local roads, where detours remain in effect. Once the design is completed, the crossover is expected to take two weeks to construct.
“The drilling and grouting work is outlining the area that will require a more extensive repair. We expect to measure progress not by how many locations are drilled and grouted each day, but by how many days each location will take to be drilled and grouted,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “This phase of the repair is expected to take another four weeks, with the entire repair likely to take about two months. We are finalizing a design to build a crossover to shift one lane of I-80 eastbound traffic onto I-80 westbound. The goal is to keep tractor trailers on I-80 and alleviate some of the traffic in local communities."
The repair process consists of multiple phases, though the precise timeline remains uncertain. However, NJDOT expects the entire repair effort to take about two months.
Governor Phil Murphy's Emergency Declaration on March 8 was a critical step in securing federal emergency funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). NJDOT is preparing a funding request detailing:
If approved, federal funds will help cover the cost of the highway repairs.
NJDOT is coordinating with local officials and New Jersey State Police to manage traffic flow and minimize delays along the official detour routes on Route 15, Route 10, and Route 46. Efforts include:
Drivers are strongly advised to avoid the area, allow extra travel time, and remain patient while repairs are underway.
For real-time travel updates, visit www.511nj.org.