All lanes of Interstate 80 near Exit 37 have reopened following emergency repairs to a collapsed sewer basin that forced major lane closures on Monday, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) confirmed.
While initial reports speculated a sinkhole, NJDOT clarified that the damage was caused by a drainage pipe collapse, not geological activity. The failure prompted the closure of three eastbound lanes in Morris County, triggering major traffic disruptions.
Repair crews worked through the night, reopening one lane by Tuesday morning. By 2 p.m., all lanes had been fully restored to traffic.
An NJDOT spokesperson confirmed Wednesday, “The drainage repairs were completed yesterday at 2 p.m., and all lanes were reopen.”
This incident comes amid growing concerns over the stability of I-80 infrastructure, as three major sinkholes have been reported along the highway in recent weeks. Unlike this latest event, those sinkholes were attributed to collapsed abandoned mineshafts.
Legislators have introduced bills aimed at assisting businesses impacted by repeated closures and detours along the vital interstate corridor.
Drivers are encouraged to remain alert as inspections and monitoring continue across the region’s roadways.
