Avoid the NJ Turnpike! Sinkhole Causes Delays

If you're thinking about driving down to Six Flags for a Saturday afternoon adventure, think again.

A sinkhole that formed on the New Jersey Turnpike near Hightstown is causing extensive delays and forcing emergency construction.
       
Turnpike spokesman Joe Orlando says the sinkhole appeared a mile south of exit 8 on Saturday morning, but it's still not clear what caused it. As of 11:35 a.m. Saturday, Turnpike officials estimated it would take about eight hours -- until 7 p.m. -- to repair the sinkhole.

In the meantime, traffic stretched all the way back to about Exit 9 and state police were handing out water to motorists caught in the 15-mile long backup.
       
Orlando says the sinkhole is 2 feet by 3 feet and forced the closure of the right lane going southbound, but the center lane "was not compromised'' as initially feared.
       
Orlando advises those traveling to the Six Flags Great Adventure park to take Route 130 south to Route 195 to detour around the area.