Silver City, NM, December 9, 2019 -- Recent rain and snowy weather has created muddy and wet driving conditions on many of the roads on the Gila National Forest, and motorists are urged to plan ahead and exercise caution.

Motorists should be aware that they could encounter a wide range of road and weather conditions and should prepare accordingly. New Mexico Department of Transportation seasonally closes NM Hwy 159 (Bursum Road) and if needed will close NM Hwy 152 over the Black Range through Emory Pass.  The forest is currently recommending avoiding FR 150 at this time due to impassable conditions at Rocky Canyon. Driving on wet and muddy roads cause rutting and resource damage.

Visitors should be prepared when visiting the forest at all times of the year, but winter months can be particularly difficult. Forest system roads are not maintained for winter travel and most of the Gila NF has little to no cell coverage.  Know Before You Go --- Pay attention to weather forecasts. Winter storms in New Mexico can become severe quickly, so stay tuned to weather forecasts when planning your trip.

Visit the NMDOT website for winter weather driving tips and current road advisory information at http://nmroads.com, or dial 511 in the state, or call 1-800-432-4269.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.