Blowing dust closes I-10 at New Mexico-Arizona border

UPDATE: UPDATE: A section of Interstate 10 near the New Mexico-Arizona border was closed for nearly two hours due to high winds and blowing dust.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials say the westbound lanes of the freeway were re-opened around 6 p.m. Monday but only the passing lane of eastbound I-10 is open at this time.

Traffic was diverted onto U.S. 70 after visibility became low in the Lordsburg area around 4 p.m.

ORIGINAL ALERT: A section of Interstate 10 near the New Mexico-Arizona border has been closed due to high winds and blowing dust.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials say traffic was diverted onto U.S. 70 after visibility became low in the Lordsburg area around 4 p.m. Monday.

There’s no immediate estimate as to when that part of I-10 will re-open.

In recent months and years, the stretch of highway near rural Lordsburg has seen deadly crashes and closures due to similar conditions stemming from the desert landscape and a dry lakebed.