The Associated Press
COCHISE COUNTY – Arizona authorities have shut down Interstate 10 at San Simon near the state’s border with New Mexico for the third day in a row due to blowing dust.
I-10 is closed in both directions. Westbound I-10 is also closed at Lordsburg, New Mexico, and the eastbound side is closed at the junction with U.S. Highway 191.
Strong winds and have caused blowing dust that causes poor to zero visibility in the area. Traffic is being diverted onto U.S. Highway 70 for westbound vehicles and U.S. Highway 191 for eastbound vehicles, on a 110-mile detour.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality says the area near San Simon is affected by the same farm that had blowing dust issues last year, costing the state at least $288,000 in efforts to stabilize the soil. The farm is owned by David R. Turner, who eventually agreed to cease any tillage of his land, water it and apps a chemical stabilizer to form a crust. Turner was slow to comply, however, and the state pursued penalties up to $10,000 per day.
Turner originally agreed to apply a “tackifier” to 320 acres of his land closest to I-10. Turner owns 640 acres in the area.
The farm removed the stabilizer on 50 acres this week to prepare for planting, but winds arrived, causing them to have to cancel their plans.
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises travelers to steer vehicles onto the shoulder of highways and roadways during adverse conditions, such as low visibility caused by dust, and to turn off the vehicle’s lights and for drivers to keep their feet off the brake. That way, other vehicles do not see the parked vehicle and think the road goes in that direction. DPS also advises to stay in the vehicle with seat belts on until it is safe to drive again.
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