The sinkhole saga appears to be coming to a close.
Six months after sinkholes first began to open up on a busy stretch of I-80 in Wharton, officials say the remaining eastbound lanes — the only still closed — will be reopened Saturday.
The three lanes on I-80 eastbound in Morris County are set to open four days ahead of schedule, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said Thursday. All lanes on the westbound span reopened June 14, 11 days earlier than anticipated.
Repairing the holes and other related costs, state officials said in May, were at that stage estimated to cost upwards of $25 million. Federal funding was being sought to help shoulder the expense.
The series of sinkholes, linked to abandoned mines, led Gov. Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency earlier this year.
The highway closure plagued thousands of drivers who had to detour either through Wharton or to use Routes 46 and 10 as alternate routes for months.
The sinkholes disrupted businesses in the area, complicated things for commuters who rely on the interstate and raised several concerns from nearby residents.
DOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said Thursday “full mobility” will be restored on I-80 in both directions this weekend.
“The repairs are permanent,” O’Connor said in a statement, “and I am confident that the highway is now stronger and safer than it was before the first sinkhole developed.”
A sinkhole that opened up in the shoulder and right lane of I-80 east, near Exit 34 in Wharton on Dec. 27 was blamed on a mine collapse.
Wharton and that section of Morris County have numerous old iron mines that were active in the late 19th and 20th centuries, according to a 1911 U.S. Geological Survey report.
On Feb. 10, officials closed I-80 east after a depression in the center lane was discovered. That later opened into a sinkhole about 75 feet from the December sinkhole.
On March 19, a third sinkhole opened on the median next to the westbound lanes.
Wet weather has delayed some of the work needed to repair the roadway.
New Jersey officials said that in order to restore all lanes on I-80, there will be a full closure of I-80’s eastbound lane Friday night for final paving and striping.
For information on available detours, click here.
Stories by Steven Rodas
NJ Advance Media staff writer Larry Higgs contributed to this report.
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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @stevenrodas.bsky.social.