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Repairs to I-80 Westbound Delayed as Sonic Drilling Takes Longer Than Expected

April 30, 2025

cars in traffic with sign for Wharton Rt. 15, Dover, Sparta — Lanes of pains continue for drivers and the residents affected by detours off I-80 in Wharton. Photo by Joe Phalon.

I-80 Traffic Disruptions Across the Country

It’s been a busy week along Interstate 80.

On Thursday two tractor-trailers crashed in Centre County, Pennsylvania, closing both directions of I-80 for most of the night.

In Lincoln, Nebraska, a crash closed the eastbound lanes of I-80 for hours on Saturday.

On Saturday night, a major snowstorm caused traffic to be diverted off I-80 near Reno, Nevada, so drivers didn’t get trapped in the snow in Donner Pass. I wouldn’t need to be told that twice.

New Jersey’s Sinkhole Crisis: Delayed Repairs on Westbound Lanes

highway blockade — The blockade on I-80 at exit 34. The eastbound lanes are expected to open on schedule in mid-May Photo by Joe Phalon.

And here in New Jersey, the giant sinkholes caused by collapses of abandoned iron mines that honeycomb the area are going to keep the westbound lanes of I-80 closed for another month, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said Friday.

Under the original schedule, I-80 westbound was expected to have two lanes reopened by May 4, according to the DOT. That reopening has been pushed back to the end of May. The delay is due to the sonic drilling process taking longer than expected, said DOT spokesperson Steve Shapiro.

“The abandoned mines and associated shafts are buried features that are not accurately mapped or visible from above,” said Steve Shapiro, a state DOT spokesman. “The extent of these mines was not fully known to the NJDOT prior to the emergence of the sinkholes.”

Sonic drilling creates less vibration and is necessary for installing micropiles near the Route 15 bridge on I-80 westbound. All piles are expected to be completed next week, according to the DOT. Once the micropiles are installed, excavation will begin in preparation for the construction of the concrete slabs.

Sign for Rt. 80 toward New York City and Rt. 15 Wharton with cars in traffic and cones and construction signs — Residents and businesses in Wharton have been impacted for months by the detours. Photo by Joe Phalon.

If everything progresses as planned, the repair of two lanes on I-80 eastbound will be completed and reopened in mid-May, with the remaining lanes expected to reopen soon after, the DOT said Monday.

State Senator Anthony Bucco, who represents the area, said he continues to hear from residents and business owners who are being impacted by the traffic on local streets.

“I fully understand the incredible frustrations that the ongoing Route 80 sinkhole mess has caused, and this latest update regarding the sonic drilling taking longer than expected on the westbound lanes undoubtedly adds to that frustration,” said Bucco.

Crews Working Around the Clock to Expedite Repairs

“However, the silver lining is the delay will only push back the reopening of the westbound lanes by a couple of weeks, and the eastbound lanes remain on schedule to reopen in mid-May,” Bucco added.

There will be two separate crews working concurrently — one on the eastbound side and one on the westbound side — to expedite repairs, Shapiro said. Crews will continue working 24 hours a day until repairs are completed and the highway is reopened.

New Legislation Aims to Address Abandoned Mines and Infrastructure Risks

Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, who represents Wharton, said Monday she would sponsor legislation that would manage long-term infrastructure risks related to the hundreds of abandoned mines that dot Morris and Warren counties.

“I have requested the drafting of legislation to establish a New Jersey Mine Reclamation Program, modeled in part on successful federal efforts and existing state programs like gas main and lead pipe replacement initiatives.”

While New Jersey’s current mine safety laws focus primarily on active mining operations, there is no comprehensive, statewide mine reclamation program to systematically address the hazards posed by abandoned mines, Dunn said.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.