I-80 to Fully Reopen This Weekend Ahead of Schedule

Overnight lane closures are scheduled through Thursday for final paving and barrier removal

All lanes on I-80 westbound in Wharton, Morris County, are set to reopen this weekend—11 days earlier than originally planned—according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The reopening marks a key milestone in the ongoing infrastructure repairs along the critical interstate corridor.

As part of the final phase of the work, NJDOT has scheduled overnight lane closures beginning tonight, Monday, June 9, and continuing through Wednesday, June 11. Each night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., one of the currently open two lanes westbound will be closed before Exit 34B (Jefferson/Sparta) to allow crews to remove construction barriers, repave the left lane, and complete work on the median. At least one lane will remain open during the overnight hours.

The westbound center and right lanes reopened on May 30. The left lane is expected to reopen Saturday, June 14, after a planned full westbound closure on Friday night, June 13, for final paving and restriping. All scheduled work is weather-dependent.

The posted speed limit through the westbound work zone remains reduced to 45 mph, and motorists are advised to proceed with caution.

Eastbound I-80 Repairs Also Progressing

On the eastbound side, two lanes reopened on May 21, with the temporary detour at Exit 34 lifted. Full eastbound reopening is expected by June 25. NJDOT reports that construction crews are continuing work 24 hours a day to meet the target date and are actively looking for opportunities to accelerate the schedule.

The speed limit in the eastbound work zone is currently 40 mph.

Additional Resources Available for Drivers

To support traffic flow and keep the public informed, NJDOT has launched an I-80 project webpage detailing construction progress, alternate routes, and traffic mitigation strategies. In addition, a dedicated I-80 travel time section has been added to www.511NJ.org, offering real-time traffic conditions and travel updates.

Motorists are urged to monitor 511NJ for the latest construction advisories and to plan accordingly while traveling through the active work zones.