New Mexico roads closed due to crashes and severe weather

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Interstate 40 is back open between Tucumcari and the Texas state line Friday morning, according to New Mexico State Police.

It comes after it was closed Friday morning, a day after two major U.S. highways were closed and both interstates were closed Thursday in New Mexico due to the weather causing snow-packed and icy conditions.

At one point Thursday night, both Interstate 25 and Interstate 40 were closed – at Raton Pass and near Tucumcari, respectively. The interstates are back open but the New Mexico Department of Transportation is still advising driving conditions are difficult.

U.S. Highway 285, between Roswell and Ramon was closed due to severe weather conditions. Ramon is about 30 miles south of Vaughn. NMDOT is advising severe driving conditions may exist on roads in and around Vaughn and Roswell. Crews are salting these roads and monitoring them.

In Vaughn, that includes U.S. Highways 285, 54 and 60. In Roswell, that includes U.S. Highways 285, 380 and 70 and New Mexico Highways 2, 246, 253, 254 and 409.

In northern New Mexico, U.S. Highway 64 was closed between Raton and Clayton – an 80-mile stretch – due to snow-packed and icy roads and blizzard conditions.

I-40 reopened in western New Mexico after closing Thursday morning at mile marker 122. New Mexico State Police reported multiple crashes and severe weather prompted the closure in the area located about 27 miles west of Albuquerque, near the Laguna Pueblo exit.

NMDOT reported possible icy conditions from mile markers 117 to 159 – from the Mesita Interchange to the Big-I in Albuquerque – but conditions have since cleared up.

Deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office reported winter driving conditions in the Albuquerque metro. They reported at least one driver lost control and spun their vehicle on I-40 in Carnuel. In the area, NMDOT advised drivers to be cautious as roads are wet with some icy spots.

In the Socorro, T or C and Las Cruces areas, which Interstate 25 passes through, NMDOT reported difficult driving conditions due to possible snow-packed and icy conditions.