Repairs continue on I-80 sinkhole as second sinkhole impacts nearby Rockaway residents
The NJDOT says the sinkhole was caused by the collapse of an abandoned mine.
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The New Jersey Department of Transportation says that the cause of a large sinkhole disrupting traffic along Interstate 80 in Wharton is due to the collapse of an abandoned mine.
The hole has caused traffic issues on the eastbound lane of I-80 near Exit 34. The DOT said workers have stabilized the area. But there is no timeframe for a reopening due to how involved the repairs will be and the winter weather expected this weekend.
The DOT says the crews have started to backfill the area "using wire mesh, stone aggregate, and other fill." The highway remains closed. Potential alternate routes include Route 46 and Route 15.
MORE: Sinkhole prompts lane closures on Interstate 80 in Wharton
About a mile away at the Mountainview Manor Condo Complex in Rockaway, residents and property management tell News 12 that there is another sinkhole in their parking area. They say they discovered that one about three weeks ago.
“When you open up the window, you see the hole right outside the unit. When you go to bed, it's an uneasy feeling, because you wake up and you're like, ‘God forbid something happens like what happened on [I-80.]’ It's a big concern," says resident Juan Cortes.
The sinkhole there is much smaller than the 40-foot-by-40-foot cavern on I-80, but it’s become a nuisance for the residents and managers - along with the I-80 sinkhole.
“The commute is insane. I have friends that come from Flanders and Sparta, and their commutes are an hour and 40, which used to be no more than 20 minutes," Cortes says.
The complex is located near Richard Mine Road, named after the Richard iron ore mine, which was active until the 1950s.
Residents of the Mountainview Manor Condo Complex say they are concerned about how stable the ground may be now that there have been multiple sinkholes in the area. These grounds, mined for their iron ore centuries ago, are now being dug up for major repairs.
