Traffic moving on I-40 as storm builds

SEDILLO, N.M. (KRQE) - Interstate 40 remained open across eastern New Mexico late Friday evening although driving conditions are described as difficult and a major winter storm sets in.

The 50 miles of I-40 over the central highlands from east of Moriarty to east of Santa Rosa are mostly wet but icy in spots, the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported shortly before 9 p.m.

As much as a foot of snow is forecast to fall in the broad target area extending from the Sacramento Mountains around Ruidoso northward across I-40 and into the high plains of the northeast, according to the National Weather Service.

At last report heavy snow was falling in Ruidoso, but Clines Corners on I-40 was reporting only light snow and mist.

The growing storm claimed another highway late Friday shutting down 110 miles of U.S. Highway 54 in east-central New Mexico.

The closure extended from north of Tularosa in Otero County to just east of Vaughn in Guadalupe County.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation announced the closure at about 11 p.m.

State Road 122 also was closed in Cibola County by a crash believed to be weather-related that happened shortly before 11 p.m.

The road was closed from Grants to the Cibola County line with traffic being diverted onto Interstate 40.

Earlier in the day in southwestern New Mexico State Road 90, which crosses the Continental Divide, was closed between Silver City and Lordsburg, and State Road 15 north of Silver City was closed between Pinos Altos and State Road 35 in the Gila National Forest.

Crashes stalled I-40

Earlier multiple crashes on I-40 between Sedillo Hill and Edgewood slowed I-40 eastbound to a crawl prompting conflicting reports as to whether the freeway was shut down.  State Police confirmed the road was open but were discouraging travel across the eastern plains.

On Interstate 25 NMDOT reported heavy snow on a 35-mile stretch from near Fort Union to Wagon Mound while at Raton the weather service at 9 p.m. reported only overcast conditions and a temperature right at freezing.

I-25 over Glorieta Pass between Las Vegas and Santa Fe was reported to be slick with icy patches and heavy snow falling.

Other troubled roads included U.S. 54 from Carrizozo northward through Corona and Vaughn to Santa Rosa on I-40 and U.S. 380 eastward from Carrizozo through Capitan into the Sacramento Mountains.

NMDOT maintenance patrols are on duty plowing and sanding.

Earlier coverage:

On Thursday it was damaging winds and freezing rain; now it's snow falling in some parts of the state already and threatening a major trouble for travelers and others.

Multiple police agencies are currently dealing with as many as 11 vehicle crashes on Interstate 40 in the snowy foothills on the east side of the Sandia Mountains.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department is handling six separate crashes, all but one of them with no reported injuries.

Shortly after 5 p.m. the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported eastbound I--40 had been closed at Sedillo with traffic diverted to State Road 333, Old Route 66, the frontage road to Edgewood and Moriarty.

However, a short time later New Mexico State Police confirmed I-40 remained open although travel was being discouraged.

Then just before 6 p.m. NMDOT reported I-40 westbound was closed at Prewitt in Cibola County by multiple crashes involving tractor-trailer rigs.

Earlier News 13 reporter Ian Schwartz at Sedillo said eastbound traffic was moving at a crawl as light snow that began falling before 4 p.m. turned heavier and begins to accumulate.

The situation is expected to get worse as the evening continues especially farther east where I-40 was closed for awhile early in the day.

(National Weather Service winter storm warning issued for heavy snow in eastern New Mexico.)

Farther east I-40 was reported to be snowpacked and icy in places between the Wagon Wheel and McKenzie exits on either side of Clines Corners.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation also reports trouble in southwestern counties where State Road 90 was closed southwest of Silver City into the Burro Mountains and the Continental Divide.  The closure later was extended all the way toward Lordsburg on Interstate 10.

State Road 15 was closed north of Pino Altos, and difficult driving conditions are reported on State Road 152 from near Silver City through the Black Range to Interstate 25.

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