Massive Sinkhole Shuts Down Eastbound I-80 in New Jersey

A 40-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep sinkhole caused by a collapsed mine has forced detours and indefinite closures near Wharton.

The sinkhole, discovered Thursday morning, collapsed part of the right lane and shoulder of Interstate 80 eastbound near Exit 34 in Wharton, New Jersey.
Officials estimate the depression is 40 feet wide and 40 feet deep, with the exact cause still under investigation, though it is linked to the collapse of an abandoned mine beneath the roadway.
All eastbound lanes remain closed, with traffic being rerouted via nearby Route 15; westbound lanes are unaffected.
Repair crews are working around the clock to stabilize the area and design a solution, but no timeline for reopening has been provided.
The closure comes during a busy holiday travel period, though lighter-than-usual traffic has mitigated some of the congestion.