Regulars and staff at the Townsquare Diner in Wharton can’t help but notice the lack of customers lately.

“Take COVID away, this is the worst time we’ve had in 20 years,” said Violeta Force, a waitress who’s worked at the diner for 20 years.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has been working for months to rebuild portions of I-80 Eastbound after a sinkhole damaged the road near Exit 34. An abandoned mineshaft is to blame, and the department says it will take at least eight more weeks to fix the interstate and make it safe to drive.

“I’m thinking for safety reasons, you want it to be as long as it takes to fix the problem,” said Sue Shay, a Townsquare Diner customer. “But on the other hand, I feel sorry for all these motorists that have to really leave an hour early in the morning.”

“There’s a lot of businesses on the other side of Wharton, and it takes them 25 minutes to get here during the lunch rush because there’s just too much traffic on the roads,” said Townsquare Diner co-owner Peter Sedereas. “They’ve just been staying away from this part of town.”

“I’m hearing what they say. At least two months,” said Jim Hill, owner of the Knotty Pine Pub up the road from the diner. “At least two months means six months to me.”

“Small businesses are an essential part of New Jersey’s economy, and our main streets are part of the fabric of our culture. The NJEDA recognizes the hardships small business owners face and our Small Business Services and Financing team recently met with local business owners affected by the Route 80 lane closures and we stand ready to continue offering our support,” Chris Flores, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority said in a statement.

— Editor’s note: The statement from NJ Economic Development Authority spokesperson Chris Flores was added after the video report was broadcast.