Wharton, NJ – March 9, 2025 – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has formally requested emergency federal funding to repair a series of disruptive sinkholes along Interstate 80 in Morris County, spotlighting a growing infrastructure challenge in the Garden State.
The announcement came during a visit to the affected site on Saturday, March 8, where the governor underscored the urgency of the situation and declared a State of Emergency for the region to expedite access to federal resources.
The sinkholes, which have plagued a stretch of I-80 near Wharton, have caused significant traffic delays, safety concerns, and frustration for commuters and local residents alike. Governor Murphy, joined by Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Pat Callahan and officials from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), emphasized the need for immediate action to mitigate the hazards and restore normalcy to one of the state’s busiest highways.
“Sinkholes along I-80 have caused major disruptions for the Wharton community and commuters across the state,” Murphy said in a statement posted on X. “I declared a State of Emergency for Morris County to expedite access to federal relief funds and support repairs as NJDOT and the State Police work to minimize hazards.”
The governor’s administration has pointed to the scale of the damage as justification for seeking federal assistance, arguing that the cost of repairs exceeds the state’s immediate budgetary capacity.