New Jersey Advances Plan to Secure Highways From Hidden Mine Hazards After I-80 Closures

Jersey lawmakers are taking additional precautions to prevent abandoned underground mines from affecting highways after sinkholes triggered repeated Interstate 80 closures this year. State officials are under pressure to maintain outdated infrastructure and avert costly and disruptive disasters that harmed thousands of drivers and nearby towns.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation must find and analyze abandoned mines that threaten roads, utilities, water systems, and private property under a new Assembly proposal. Many concealed 19th-century mines may collapse abruptly if underground foundations fail.

The transportation agency must identify and fix high-risk sites under the law. The agency can repair, hire contractors, or reimburse governments and property owners when mines threaten local infrastructure. The measure creates an Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund for long-term restoration with federal, state, and other funds.

Both party lawmakers think the issue goes beyond politics. The I-80 sinkholes revealed how hidden geological difficulties can threaten public safety, trade, and state resources. A major New Jersey transit route closed, causing traffic congestion in western Morris County and harming commuters and local businesses.

The bill’s urgency comes from I-80. A December 2024 eastbound lanes sinkhole near Wharton was quickly repaired. February saw another middle lane collapse, shutting down traffic. A third sinkhole halted westbound lanes in March, aggravating the problem. Three sinkholes showed the roadway hazard within two months.

Westbound traffic resumed in mid-June, followed by eastbound lanes a few days later. State crews finished repairs early. But the financial impact was significant. Construction costs exceeded tens of millions, while transportation and police overtime added millions. State officials expect federal aid.

The area above Morris County’s ancient iron mines, mostly around Wharton, is affected. The same region had similar concerns years before, showing that the risk has risen as infrastructure ages and traffic rises. Outside the highway, neighbors in nearby apartment buildings reported cracks and structural difficulties, but sinkhole inspections found no damage.

A State Senate companion proposal is moving forward, demonstrating strong support for the initiative. Environmentalists think New Jersey has approximately 600 abandoned mines, therefore supporters advocate for immediate action. To minimize emergencies, deaths, economic losses, and long-term traffic delays, map and stabilize these locations today.

If passed, the measure would alter New Jersey’s mining heritage. Instead of reacting,