Arizona highway to California reopens; highway to New Mexico remains closed
Hours after a Thursday "hazmat situation" forced the closure of a highway at the Arizona-California state line, Arizona transportation officials reopened westbound lanes. A second highway closure at the New Mexico state line remained active.
It wasn't immediately clear what the hazmat situation consisted of, but the Arizona Department of Transportation said the Interstate 40 westbound lanes were open, just before 7:50 p.m. Thursday. The department closed the Arizona side just after 3 p.m. to help mitigate traffic headed into the closure in California.
The eastbound lanes were unaffected according to ADOT.
The Arizona Republic reached out to Caltrans for details on the hazmat situation, but did not receive a response.
*CLOSURE*
I-40 westbound is closed at the California stateline.
The closure is due to a hazmat situation on I-40 in California.
Expect delays and seek an alternate route.
There is no estimated time to reopen the highway. pic.twitter.com/nMloeP51iZ— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 4, 2023
Westbound I-10 closed at New Mexico state line
Though it isn't a hazmat situation, the Arizona Department of Transportation said it is "at about hour 26" in an expected 48-hour bridge repair process.
*UPDATE*
I-10 WB is closed at the New Mexico stateline for bridge repairs in Willcox.
There is no estimated time to reopen the highway.
Utilize this map for a recommended detour, and check https://t.co/NL8OBIMDyz or the AZ511 app for the latest updates: https://t.co/pfLZvJLMqx pic.twitter.com/qIWC30cHFB— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 4, 2023
The project, which began on Wednesday to shore up the bridge damaged by a semitruck crash earlier that day, has since passed the halfway mark.
"Eastbound I-10 is open through the area, with eastbound traffic able to exit and re-enter I-10 via the exit/entrance ramps at US 191 (milepost 331)," ADOT said in a release on Thursday.
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ADOT also suggests using these westbound I-10 detours:
South and east on State Route 80 from Roadforks, New Mexico, to U.S. 191 in Douglas.
North on U.S. 191 north to Davis Road in McNeal.
West on Davis Road to SR 80.
North SR 80 through Tombstone to State Route 82.
West on SR 82 to State Route 90 in Whetstone.
North on SR 90 to Interstate 10 in Benson.
Traffic conditions can always be checked at az511.gov to stay up to date.
No other information was released.
This is a developing story. Check back to azcentral for updates.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ADOT reopens Arizona highway to California after ‘hazmat situation’
