Click here for important updates to our privacy policy.
TRANSPORTATION
5-minute read
William Westhoven Kyle Morel Philip DeVencentis Lucas Frau David M. Zimmer
NorthJersey.com
As sinkholes continue to open up Route 80 and now Route 287, getting around North Jersey, and in particular Morris County, is becoming more challenging each day.
On Route 80, the voids on both the westbound and eastbound sides of the highway were created by abandoned mines ? many of which dot the landscape in Wharton, Dover and the aptly-named Mine Hill.
On 287, where a sinkhole opened on March 21, the cause has yet to be determined.
What's for sure is the problems are likely to continue for weeks, if not months, as engineers and construction crews work around the clock to fill the voids and repair the roads.
"This is getting ridiculous and it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or dies as a result of one of these sink holes," state Assemblyman Brian Bergen told NorthJersey.com. "We need swift action by the DOT to fix these issues. Going forward, NJ should spend less money on wackadoodle liberal initiatives and more money on shoring up our vital infrastructure."
Please continue reading the story below the gallery
Here's a look at what we know and how we got here:
Detours and road closures
The location of the sinkholes could not be much worse.
The voids on Route 80 are located near the junction of Route 15 (there is also a massive bridge repair on Route 15 south underway in Jefferson). The one on Route 287 sits between Routes 80 and 46, just south of the Boonton Reservoir. The two sinkhole sites are less than 20 miles from one another by vehicle, less as the crow flies.
All the roads are heavily trafficked, used by commuters, truckers, buses and residents just moving around North Jersey.
Now, all that traffic is being funneled through the downtowns and side streets of Boonton, Denville, Wharton, Dover, Randolph, Parsippany and other highway towns. Already, local business owners are taking a hit as the traffic-clogged main streets choke out shoppers. And residents in normally quiet neighborhoods are being subjected to the rumble and stumble of vehicles navigating detours 24 hours a day.
More: What do apps like Waze and Google Maps recommend for avoiding Route 80 sinkhole traffic?
Please continue reading the story below the gallery
Mines, voids and sinkholes
NJDOT is aware the sinkholes are likely caused by a failing network of mineral mines that once fueled the economy of the region, but were mostly closed and abandoned long before highway construction began in the 1960s.
The underbelly of Morris County and its roads are filled with more than 100 abandoned underground mines, most located in the northwestern half of the county, according to a 2020 geographical report of Morris County.
Sinkhole ‘Whack-a-Mole?’
The latest sinkhole to shut down all eastbound lanes of Route 80 in Morris County apparently has plenty of company.
As repairs continue at the site, testing conducted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation has "identified 90 locations to be assessed and mitigate potential instability or possible voids."
"Our investigation identified additional subsurface movement, leading to proactive drilling and grouting operations to stabilize the roadway," NJDOT spokesperson Steve Schapiro said.
More:There might be 90 voids under Route 80
What causes sinkholes?
Timothy Bechtel, the director of science outreach and a senior professor of geosciences at Franklin & Marshall College, said sinkholes like the gaping cavity that opened this week in an Interstate 80 work zone are “usually related” to precipitation or in more developed areas, leaking underground pipes.
Every sinkhole starts, Bechtel said, with a manmade void or a natural cave. In this case, the state Department of Transportation has already identified 90 locations along the interstate that need to be assessed due to potential instability and the presence of abandoned mine shafts.
Read the full story here.
How did we get here? A timeline
Contrary to what it may feel like to North Jersey commuters, the most recent sinkhole issues impacting a stretch of Route 80 in Morris County has only been going on for just over a month.
But the problems in the area, which include another hole in the roadway spotted in late December, can be traced back to mining activity more than two centuries ago.
Click here for a timeline on how we sunk so far.
Only in Jersey: Sinkhole ice cream
While many are frustrated with detours and traffic caused by the sinkhole on Route 80 in Wharton, one local ice cream shop found a way to sweeten the situation.
Das' Creamery in Budd Lake has created a "Sinkhole Sundae."
Sinkholes and mines
Can't get enough of the sinkhole story? Check out these pictures.