Congressman Kean, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Governor Murphy Visit I-80 Sinkholes in New Jersey

(March 22, 2025) WHARTON, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Governor Phil Murphy visited the I-80 sinkholes to receive updates on the New Jersey’s Department of Transportation’s efforts to repair the affected areas. All lanes on I-80 in Wharton are closed due to a new sinkhole.    

“This is a critical issue that requires collaboration across all levels of government, and ensuring the safety of our residents remains our top priority,” said Congressman Kean. “I hear every day from constituents whose commute times have doubled or tripled, from small business owners who have faced significant disruptions, and from local elected officials who are worried about the accelerated wear on county and local roads due to a traffic volume they were never designed to handle. I will continue pushing for every available federal resource to fully restore I-80 as quickly as possible. I thank Secretary Duffy and Governor Murphy for visiting today and making this a priority—we must all work together to reopen I-80 as soon as possible.”  

“1-80 is a critical artery that impacts not just the local community but the entire region,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “USDOT has brought in national experts in geotechnical engineering to help NJDOT identify the problem and safely reopen this road. I want to thank Governor Murphy, Congressman Kean, NJDOT, and local leaders for their partnership, and I look forward to our continued collaboration.” 

“As we assess the impacts of this new sinkhole on I-80, we will continue to work around the clock so that New Jersey commuters and families can get their lives back on track,” said Governor Murphy. “Two weeks ago, I declared a State of Emergency in Morris County so the State could access federal funding to help us to repair this damage. We understand the significant disruption that this has caused and remind everyone that the safety of New Jerseyans continues to be our top priority.”

Earlier this month, Congressman Kean sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to take action in response to a series of sinkholes that have significantly impacted Interstate 80 (I-80) in Wharton, New Jersey, causing major traffic delays throughout the community. Congressman Kean visited the sinkhole site on I-80 on March 8, 2025, with Governor Murphy and local elected officials.

In late December 2024, a sinkhole developed along the shoulder of the eastbound lanes of I-80, leading to a four-day closure for repairs. In early February, another road closure on the eastbound lanes was necessary after a “depression” appeared in the middle of the roadway near the initial sinkhole site. Subsequent investigations uncovered an even larger issue: a “void” beneath the eastbound lanes, further complicating repair efforts. On Wednesday, March 19, a third sinkhole opened in the median causing the closure of the westbound lanes.

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