Second sinkhole opens up on I-80 in New Jersey, shutting down roadway
Editor’s note: This video aired on Dec. 26, 2024.
WHARTON, N.J. (PIX11) – A sinkhole opened up on I-80 in New Jersey Monday morning, causing the roadway to partially shut down, according to the state’s Department of Transportation.
All eastbound lanes are closed at Exit 34, which is Wharton, as of 7 a.m. Drivers are encouraged to plan an alternate route, the DOT wrote on X.
It’s the second reported sinkhole in the area since December. A 40-foot by 40-foot hole opened up at the same exit on Dec. 26, caused by the collapse of an abandoned mineshaft underneath, officials said.
There are several abandoned iron mines in the area which date back to the 1800s, according to New Jersey state records.
“The underground is basically Swiss cheese,” William Kroth, the executive director of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, previously told PIX11 News.
This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.
This story consists of reporting from PIX11’s Jay Dow.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
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