There’s an end in sight to New Jersey’s I-80 sinkhole saga, officials have announced, as aid comes to affected small businesses in the area.
Interstate 80 has been closed, in one or both directions, just north of Wharton, in Morris County, since February, and faced repeated repair delays as more sinkholes opened up. As repairs progressed, others followed, closing down more and more lanes. At one point, there was no timeline at all for reopening.
But last week, officials dropped dates for reopening the entire highway by the end of June. May 4 should see the two westbound lanes reopened, followed by the two eastbound ones on May 18 and “full restoration of all lanes in both directions” by June 25, state Assemblywoman Aura Dunn said in a statement.
“NJDOT is bringing in expert teams and employing infrastructure-sensitive methods to ensure the repairs are not only effective, but designed to support long-term stability and safety for the roadway,” Dunn said. “I know how frustrating this situation has been for residents and commuters, and I want to thank you for your continued patience.”
The precursor to the current headache, which has snarled commuter traffic and clogged work-around roads, came in December, when a sinkhole opened up in the roadway the week before New Year’s. Another opened in February at almost the same spot.
Small businesses affected by the closures can apply for low-interest loans of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition, Gov. Phil Murphy is working to establish a $5 million grant program, the Route 80 Business Assistance Grant Program, for affected businesses and nonprofit organizations, a measure the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) board is slated to vote on this week.
“It’s been a grueling several weeks for Morris County business owners located off the Route 80 corridor. From Wharton to Roxbury, small businesses have had fewer customers, resulting in a decline in sales and revenue. I’m happy to announce today that help is on the way,” Murphy said in a statement.
“The NJEDA’s planned grant program, paired with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans, will inject much-needed capital into small businesses. We are committed to doing this as swiftly as possible to ease the burden on local businesses.”