Transportation Update: I-80 Eastbound Reopens May 21, NJT Rail Strike Ends

MORRISTOWN, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has announced that two eastbound lanes on Interstate 80 in Wharton are scheduled to reopen late Wednesday night, May 21, marking a key milestone in ongoing road improvement efforts. Crews have completed paving and are now finalizing lane striping and safety barrier installation.

The reopening will lift the current detour in place at Exit 34, which has impacted both daily commuters and local businesses since the start of repairs.

Westbound lane repairs are also advancing, with two lanes expected to reopen by the end of next week, pending favorable weather conditions. NJDOT confirmed that construction crews remain active on site around the clock, and the complete restoration of all lanes remains on target for June 25.

Motorists are reminded to observe the reduced speed limit of 45 miles per hour while traveling through the construction zone, which remains in effect for safety reasons.

In a separate transportation update, NJ Transit rail service resumed normal operations on Tuesday morning following a three-day strike by train engineers. A tentative contract agreement has been reached between the union and NJ Transit management and is scheduled for a vote in early June.

The return to standard rail schedules is expected to ease commuting disruptions statewide, particularly for those affected by the simultaneous road construction and transit strike.

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