New sinkhole on I-80 raising safety concerns for surrounding towns
WHARTON, N.J. (PIX11) -- All lanes of I-80 are shut down in Wharton after a 15x15 feet sinkhole opened up Wednesday in a work zone near the median.
The Mayors of Mine Hill and Wharton expect it will be a while before things are back to normal. “I think it’s going to be a year to 18 months because I think it’s bad over there,” said Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris.
“We’re gonna be dealing with a lot more chaos,” said Wharton Mayor Bill Chegwidden. “Our infrastructure is getting pounded.”
The biggest concern is traffic, and ensuring that emergency vehicles can safely and swiftly maneuver around. Mine Hill plans to preposition fire trucks.
“We’re gonna take fire trucks and put them in each section of town,” said Mayor Morris. “Because the firemen are worried about trying to get up and down Route 46 to get to the firehouse to get a truck.”
Mayor Morris said the county and state are also delaying pre-planned construction work to prevent further traffic.
The DOT has not given an estimate for reopening. Mayor Chegwidden said he understands why, likening the construction workers’ situation to feeling your way around in the dark.
“If you go into someone’s house, you’re in the dark and you’re bouncing off all kinds of things,” said Chegwidden. “That’s what they’re looking at right now. They don’t know what they’re looking at right now. They don’t know what’s under that ground.”
Wharton resident Paula Aristizabal said she can barely get out of her driveway these days. She said she leaves 30 minutes for a commute that should take eight minutes.
“The last few weeks have been bumper-to-bumper outside my house,” said Aristizabal.
Local businesses are also suffering. Mayor Chegwidden said Wharton plans to host a restaurant walk to drum up support for local businesses.
“All of 80 is passing by, but nobody’s stopping,” said Yazan Muheisen, co-owner of Pop’s Bagels in Wharton. “And then all of our locals who live on the other side of town are having a hard time just coming through, so we’re not seeing them either.”
Muheisen estimates business is down 30-40% because of the closure. “What was a quiet neighborhood street has turned into an interstate highway,” said Muheisen.