A significant sinkhole measuring 40 feet by 40 feet emerged on a major highway in New Jersey on Thursday, attributed to an abandoned mineshaft, according to officials.
Teams are tirelessly engaged in efforts to fix the enormous gap along I-80 close to Exit 40 in Wharton, which led to significant traffic disruptions the day following Christmas.
On Friday, the State Department of Transportation announced that a collapse of an abandoned mineshaft led to the formation of a sinkhole, resulting in the closure of multiple lanes on the heavily trafficked highway.
“Teams are dedicated to working tirelessly to finish the repairs and reopen the highway at the earliest opportunity,” NJDOT stated, though no timeline for completion was provided.
The department stated, “It is premature to provide a specific timeline due to the extensive repairs required and the anticipated weather conditions this weekend.”
A sinkhole appeared on Thursday morning, swallowing the right shoulder and lanes of I-80, resulting in a large opening approximately 40 miles west of New York City.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported due to the sinkhole, yet it led to significant traffic congestion. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes throughout the weekend while teams address the situation.
The NJDOT has yet to share additional information regarding the collapsed mine shaft that led to the sinkhole, though this is not the first occurrence of such an event.
In nearby Pennsylvania, 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard tragically fell into a 30-foot sinkhole while searching for her missing cat earlier this month. Authorities discovered that a collapse from an old mineshaft caused the sinkhole.
Two days later, the remains of the missing grandmother were discovered.