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DOT details I-80 sinkhole repairs and outlines Target 0 pedestrian-safety push
Summary
The New Jersey Department of Transportation told lawmakers I-80 sinkhole repairs are ongoing with target lane reopenings by late June and described a three-tier monitoring system and an initiative (Target 0) aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2040.
New Jersey Department of Transportation officials told the Assembly Transportation Committee on May 5 that emergency work on sinkholes along Interstate 80 is progressing and that the department is deploying new site monitoring and planning longer-term measures to prevent recurrence.
DOT Commissioner (name given in testimony) said crews are working 24 hours a day and that a permanent repair program aims to have all lanes reopened by June 25, although westbound lane work moved past an earlier May timeline because of longer-than-expected sonic drilling.
"The permanent long term repair of the I-80 is progressing and all lanes in both directions are still on schedule to reopen by June 25," the commissioner said, while acknowledging some work on the westbound side will take longer than anticipated. He described a three-level monitoring system now in place on I-80 to track movement of asphalt, soil and bedrock, and said the governor has directed DOT to coordinate with the departments of Labor and Environmental Protection to assemble mining experts for broader risk assessments.
The commissioner also described Target 0, a statewide safety initiative with the stated ambition to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. DOT said it will deliver a draft statewide safety-action plan by the end of the year and has started with engineering upgrades at the 10 most dangerous intersections, with plans to expand the list.
Legislators asked for more detail on the abandoned mines near state roads, project timelines and capital funding; DOT said it is seeking federal emergency designation and other federal funds to help defray the cost of major repairs and to hire outside mining expertise where needed.
The department also reviewed other capital-project processes, permitting improvements and procurement modernization that it says are reducing delays for developers and local governments.
Ending: DOT officials committed to provide additional technical details and timelines for sinkhole repairs, monitoring deployments, and the rollout of Target 0 intersection upgrades.
