Wharton businesses, residents face long-term challenges from repeated I-80 sinkholes
All lanes on I-80 remain closed. The latest update from Assemblywoman Aura Dunn states that the newest sinkhole is temporarily stabilized.
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Local officials and the Wharton community are learning more about the next steps in the ongoing Interstate 80 sinkhole repair efforts following a Thursday meeting with the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
All lanes on I-80 remain closed. The latest update from Assemblywoman Aura Dunn states that the newest sinkhole is temporarily stabilized. There’s more testing scheduled on the westbound side of the highway.
Plans were underway to shift some eastbound traffic to the westbound side with a crossover lane. That project has been paused for now due to the new sinkhole.
Wharton Mayor Bill Chegwidden says there is no firm project timeline because the situation keeps changing. The traffic forced a two-hour delayed opening at Wharton schools on Thursday.
Over at Wharton's La Forchetta restaurant, some of the regulars are still coming in, but it’s not enough. Owner Norberto Berganza says his sales are down 25-30%. The restaurant will now be closed on Mondays, starting next week.
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“We explained to [employees] that for right now, our plan is to keep everybody working, but we'll see how things continue,” Berganza said.
The town plans to help these businesses with a restaurant walk event, and the state Legislature is looking into a measure that would temporarily exempt small businesses impacted by a public highway project from sales tax.
Residents at the nearby Avalon Wharton apartments received a message Thursday that their building is safe. Residents had told News 12 they noticed cracks and sinking shortly after the sinkholes broke essentially in their backyard.
“They did a survey, and when they did the survey, they do the building at different points,” Chegwidden said. “It hasn't moved in 11 years. We also were ordered by the state to go over and take a look and we did a visual inspection that was over five hours, and then the report just came out now saying there's nothing wrong.”
Residents said weeks ago that if they want to break their lease, it will cost them.
This is the third major sinkhole on I-80 since December.
I-80 eastbound Exit 34 Detour:
• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are being directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
• At the end of the ramp, stay right following signs for Route 15/Jefferson/Dover/Sparta/Picatinny Arsenal
• Stay in the right lane on North Main Street following signs for Route 15 North/Jefferson/Sparta
• Bear right toward Route 15 northbound/Picatinny Arsenal
• At the traffic signal, merge onto Route 15 northbound
• Stay left, following signs for Pondview Drive/U and Left Turns
• Using both lanes, make a U-turn at the Pondview Drive traffic signal and merge onto Route 15 southbound
• Stay left to take the exit to I-80 eastbound
