TRANS I-40 shut down due to train derailment near NM-AZ line

Walbash

Walbash

Contributing Member
www.kob.com

I-40 shut down due to train derailment near NM-AZ line

Interstate 40 is shut down near the New Mexico-Arizona state line due to a train derailment around 13 miles west of Gallup.
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Griffin Rushton, Jonathan Fjeld | KOB
Updated: 1 hour ago
Published: April 26, 2024 - 3:17 PM

NEW MEXICO — Interstate 40 is shut down near the New Mexico-Arizona state line due to a train derailment around 13 miles west of Gallup.

Officials with the Apache County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona said a BNSF train derailed Friday. They said it happened south of I-40 near milepost 3 in New Mexico.

According to New Mexico State Police, the train was carrying gasoline and propane. Emergency crews are trying to mitigate the spread of the fire. No injuries have been reported.

KOB 4 received several videos showing a massive fireball coming from a train that appeared to derail near the state line.

Eastbound I-40 is closed on the Arizona side at milepost 357.

Westbound I-40 will be closed to all westbound traffic at milepost 126 and diverted onto State Road 6 South. According to NMSP, all commercial motor vehicles and non-local residents traveling west on I-40 are instructed to take I-25 south at Albuquerque to I-10 in Las Cruces to continue to travel west.

Local residents of Laguna, Acoma, Grants, and Gallup will be allowed to continue west past the road closure on I-40 with proof of local residency.

There’s no timeline on how long it will take to clean up – which means there could be traffic issues through the weekend.

The derailment comes a month after a BNSF train derailed in Socorro. That derailment spilled millions of pounds of corn.
 
hiwall

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Geologic formations force major east-west train tracks and a large east-west highway into very close proximity for many miles where this train crash happened.
I used this location in one of my stories because the impact of a major derailment could cause many problems for US citizens. A huge amount of goods are shipped by rail and trucks through that area. It could impact almost every American if both rail and highway are closed for any real length of time.
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
That is huge detour for people....with the price of gas today...
If you have never driven I-40 .... just west of Gallup...there are towering beautiful cliffs on both sides of the highway with just a narrow passage between them..for all the traffic of all kinds
 
Wildweasel

Wildweasel

F-4 Phantoms Phorever
News broadcast from Albuquerque about the derailment. Train could have been going as fast as 60mph at the derailment site, the speed limit for mixed freight trains.

edit: Couldn't get the article to post. Title was too long.
 
G

gillmanNSF

Veteran Member
Electric signs eastbound on I-40 today said that the interstate was closed at mile marker 285. Not sure where that is exactly. I'm just off I-40 at an RV park outside of Winslow, AZ. Heard about the derailment last night from an old timer trucker while having dinner at a truck stop just east of Kingman. Supposed to be in Holbrook next week visiting the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, I hope we can get to it.

Current AZ 511 information says:

Interstate 40 eastbound closed in Chambers

PHOENIX –The eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 are now closed in Chambers, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.


In Arizona, eastbound I-40 is closed at milepost 233 in Chambers due to a train derailment in New Mexico.


Motorists are advised to expect long delays and postpone travel plans through the area.

Interstate travelers looking to pass through Arizona are encouraged to use southern routes, including Interstate 10.


There is no estimated time to reopen the highway. Motorists looking for information about highway travel in New Mexico can visit NMRoads.com.


Real-time highway conditions in Arizona are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app and by calling 511.
 
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Peachy

Peachy

Contributing Member
gillmanNSF said:
Electric signs eastbound on I-40 today said that the interstate was closed at mile marker 285. Not sure where that is exactly. I'm just off I-40 at an RV park outside of Winslow, AZ. Heard about the derailment last night from an old timer trucker while having dinner at a truck stop just east of Kingman. Supposed to be in Holbrook next week visiting the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, I hope we can get to it.
Click to expand...
I loved Winslow and the entire area. On the map, exit 285 is Holbrook. So you should be fine. If I remember correctly you can use some backroads heading to the parks.
 
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