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Sinkhole Shuts Down Connection Between Holland Tunnel, N.J. Turnpike

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- All lanes have reopened at the westbound connection of the New Jersey Turnpike in Jersey City after a sinkhole prompted a closure Tuesday afternoon.

Holland Tunnel work completed much earlier than anticipated, the New Jersey State Police said on Twitter. All lanes reopened. 

The New Jersey state Department of Transportation said the hole was discovered Tuesday morning on the upgrade in Jersey City, where vehicles enter the Newark bay extension of the Turnpike heading west.

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DOT spokesman Tom Feeney said the hole is about one foot in diameter, but it has forcing road crews to replace an entire 7-by-12-foot bridge deck panel.

Traffic was being detoured onto Route 139.

The shutdown also caused major traffic headaches on the other side of the Hudson River. CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported traffic was backed up to a standstill on Varick Street toward the approach to the Holland Tunnel.

Anyone heading to the Holland Tunnel was advised to consider an alternate route or expect delays.

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