Watermain Break Closes Route 53 in Denville; Repairs Underway Through Tuesday

Emergency repairs to a ruptured watermain under the I-80 overpass have shut down portions of Route 53 and the Route 46 eastbound ramp in Morris County.

A watermain break early Monday morning has led to the full closure of Route 53 southbound and partial closure northbound in Denville Township, Morris County. The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Monday, October 27, beneath the I-80 overpass near the interchange with Indian Road and Hall Avenue.

As of 2:07 p.m., Route 53 remains closed southbound, while only the right lane remains open northbound. The eastbound exit ramp from Route 46 to Route 53 southbound is also closed and detoured.

Crews from Denville Public Works are currently on site conducting emergency repairs to the damaged watermain. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the work is expected to be completed by the morning of Tuesday, October 28. Should repairs finish ahead of schedule, roadways may reopen sooner.

Motorists traveling through the area should expect detours and potential delays. Alternate routes are advised while the work is ongoing.

Additional Traffic Alerts in Morris County (as of Monday, October 27):

• Route 24 Westbound: Delays from east of Exit 1 (CR 511/Whippany Road, Morris Township) to I-287 in Hanover Township. All lanes remain open.

• US 46 Westbound (Mount Olive): Construction between west of I-80 and east of CR 667/Mt. Olive Road continues. Right lane closed until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31.

• NJ 23 Northbound (Butler): Right lane closed near CR 511/Boonton Avenue due to construction, with work scheduled until 3:00 p.m.

• US 46 Eastbound (Denville): Operational activity related to the watermain break continues to affect all lanes near Route 53.

Drivers should consult 511NJ.org or follow official NJDOT traffic updates for real-time information and detour details.