Overview

• A 40×40 ft sinkhole opened on Interstate 80 in Wharton, NJ, on December 26, 2024, caused by the collapse of an abandoned mineshaft beneath the highway.
• Police bodycam footage, released in May 2025, shows the immediate aftermath, capturing public shock and the scale of the collapse.
• Two additional sinkholes emerged in February and March 2025, further complicating repair efforts and extending closures.
• The New Jersey Department of Transportation has announced that two eastbound lanes will reopen on May 21, with all lanes expected to be operational by June 25.
• I-80 is a vital transportation corridor, and the closures have disrupted local commutes and freight traffic, highlighting the region's mining-related infrastructure vulnerabilities.