All westbound lanes of I-80 in Wharton, which have been closed for three months due to two sinkholes, are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, June 14, 11 days earlier than scheduled, state Department of Transportation officials said.But first crews have to finish up the remaining work, if weather permits. This Tuesday has a 90% chance of rain, according to forecasts.One of t...
All westbound lanes of I-80 in Wharton, which have been closed for three months due to two sinkholes, are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, June 14, 11 days earlier than scheduled, state Department of Transportation officials said.
But first crews have to finish up the remaining work, if weather permits. This Tuesday has a 90% chance of rain, according to forecasts.
One of the two currently open westbound lanes will be closed overnight for the next three nights - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - starting at 10 p.m.
“The closure is necessary to remove construction barrier and repave the left lane and part of the median,” said Steve Schapiro, a DOT spokesperson.
One westbound lane will remain open.
On Friday night, June 13, all I-80 westbound lanes will be closed and traffic detoured for final paving and line painting.
All lanes are expected to reopen on Saturday, June 14, weather permitting.
Construction continues on one eastbound lane and the shoulder before the highway fully reopens, a project officials say is on schedule for a June 25 opening.
Drivers using the reopened east and westbound lanes will need to slow down because there is still an active work zone in the remaining lanes and median, Schapiro said.
Work zone speed restrictions are 45 mph on I-80 westbound and 40 mph on I-80 eastbound, he said.
All of I-80’s lanes had been closed at Exit 34 in Wharton since March 19, when a sinkhole opened on the median next to the westbound lanes.
Wet weather delayed the reopening of two eastbound lanes until May 21 because a protective sealant couldn’t be applied to concrete slabs that support the roadway.
The eastbound lanes were closed on Feb. 10 when the sinkhole first opened. That was the second sinkhole that opened since an initial sinkhole opened in the right lane and shoulder in December.
The closure of the highway has plagued thousands of beleaguered drivers who had to detour either through Wharton or to use Routes 46 and 10 as alternate routes for almost four months.
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