Flooding damage to bridge required 200-mile detour for travelers
SILVER CITY – After heavy flooding damaged a bridge on Highway 180 on Sunday, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and State Police immediately sprang into action to protect motorists and repair the bridge.
NMDOT employees immediately mobilized engineers and crews to assess the damage and formulate a plan to make repairs to the washed-out bridge, which were completed in just four days. Meanwhile, State Police closed the road and manned the closures continuously to ensure nobody risked their safety by attempting to cross the bridge.
“With the recent heavy rains hitting Grant County causing destruction and the closure of a bridge north of Silver City, this created a tremendous hardship for the communities of Cliff, Gila, and Buckhorn, as well as residents of Silver City who utilize US 180 and the local school district,” said Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner. “We appreciate the quick response by the NMDOT to repair and reopen US 180 in a timely manner.”
As NMDOT worked through the day and night to repair the bridge without access to nearby towns, nearby residents prepared and delivered hot, homemade meals to the workers and officers to show their gratitude.
“The state did a great job responding, they worked hard and stayed out there the whole time making the repairs,” said resident Tammy Clifton. “It was the least the community could do to help support NMDOT and State Police by feeding them. The crew had to be out and away from their families, we just wanted to make sure they had what was needed to keep going.”
“I am grateful for the quick response from the NMDOT, NMSP, DHSEM, and local communities and first responders,” said Lt. Governor Howie Morales, a Silver City resident. “Special thanks to NMDOT District One and all its employees who quickly responded to what could have been a long-term problem for the communities affected.”