MAGDALENA, NM — Bridge damage has closed both directions of U.S. 60 between Magdalena and Socorro, and New Mexico transportation officials say the highway will not reopen Wednesday.
The shutdown affects eastbound and westbound traffic from mile marker 112, about 1 mile west of Magdalena, to mile marker 136, about 2 miles west of Escondida. The New Mexico Department of Transportation said the road was shut because of the bridge damage, and a bridge inspection team is on the way.
Closure stretches from west of Magdalena to west of Escondida
The closure covers a long section of U.S. 60 in west-central New Mexico, cutting off a key route between the communities of Magdalena and Socorro. Drivers cannot travel through the affected segment in either direction while the damage is assessed.
The mile markers listed by the Department of Transportation put the closed area between the west side of Magdalena and the west side of Escondida. Officials have not given a timeline for reopening beyond saying the highway will remain closed Wednesday.
Detour sends drivers onto N.M. 107 and a long alternate route
A detour is in place via N.M. 107, but transportation officials warned that the alternate route is extremely muddy. They recommended that drivers use 4×4 vehicles because of the conditions on the detour.
The designated reroute is about 287 miles long and uses several highways across the region. The detour includes parts of Interstate 25, N.M. 6, N.M. 117, Interstate 40, N.M. 36 and U.S. 60.
Officials list the highways and mile markers included in the detour
The detour route runs along Interstate 25 from mile markers 148 to 203. It then continues on N.M. 6 from mile markers 0 to 35 and N.M. 117 from mile markers 0 to 57.
From there, drivers are directed onto Interstate 40 from mile markers 85.5 to 126.5, then N.M. 36 from mile markers 0 to 21.5, before rejoining U.S. 60 from mile markers 34.5 to 112. Transportation officials released the mile-marker list so motorists can plan for the lengthy reroute.
Inspection team is heading to the damaged bridge
The New Mexico Department of Transportation said a bridge inspection team is en route to the site. That inspection is expected to help determine the extent of the damage and what work will be needed before the highway can reopen.
No additional details about the cause of the bridge damage were provided in the notice. For now, officials are focusing on keeping traffic away from the closed section and steering drivers to the detour.
What drivers should expect until the road reopens
For motorists who normally use U.S. 60 between Magdalena and Socorro, the closure means a significantly longer trip and rough travel conditions on the alternate route. The state has urged drivers to be prepared for mud and difficult access along the detour.
Because the road remains closed and inspectors have not finished their work, travel through the area will be disrupted beyond Wednesday. Drivers heading through west-central New Mexico will need to use the posted alternate route until officials announce that the highway is safe to reopen.
