WHARTON, New Jersey –
A sinkhole that opened Thursday along Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey forced authorities to close the eastbound lanes of the busy highway.
The sinkhole was discovered Thursday morning near Wharton, which is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of New York City.
Crews were evaluating how to repair the sinkhole, which left a huge depression along the right shoulder of the road. It’s too early to know how long repairs will take, said Steve Schapiro, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The closure comes at a time when traffic is lighter than normal due to the holidays, he said. Motorists were ordered to take a short detour before they could return to the interstate, which connects northern New Jersey with Pennsylvania.
