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The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has identified 90 potential voids under Interstate 80 in Morris County, raising concerns about the stability of the roadway. This discovery comes as crews work to repair a sinkhole that forced the closure of all eastbound lanes on February 10. The sinkhole, measuring 11 by 11 feet, was located just 75 feet from a larger sinkhole that appeared in December.
According to NJDOT spokesperson Steve Schapiro, the department is conducting proactive drilling and grouting operations to stabilize the roadway. Assemblywoman Aura Dunn expressed concerns about the potential for more sinkholes, comparing the situation to a game of Whack-A-Mole.
The voids are believed to be caused by a network of abandoned mineral mines in the area, which date back to the 1800s. The NJDOT is working with the Department of Labor to understand the potential impacts of these mines. A Geotechnical Asset Management Program is being developed to predict the condition and remaining service life of the infrastructure.
Repairs are expected to take several weeks, with weather conditions affecting the timeline. In the meantime, traffic is being rerouted, causing significant delays for commuters. Residents have reported that detours are turning short drives into lengthy commutes. The NJDOT is manually directing traffic and adjusting signal timings to ease congestion.