Weather closes interstate east of ABQ

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The latest winter storm has already moved on from the metro area but the effects will be sticking around for a bit.

Officials announced that eastbound I-40 from Tramway to the Texas border will remain closed until at least Tuesday morning due to severe weather conditions in Texas and Oklahoma.

The closure has left several semi-trucks stranded on the side of the interstate.

Roads in New Mexico are mainly clear and passable, but state Police are keeping the closure in place to accommodate the requests from law enforcement and transportation officials in Texas.

State police have been trying to clear the long line of semis that have just parked on the freeway waiting for I-40 to reopen.

Officers have been going truck-to-truck telling drivers to either take I-25 and try to drive around the storm, or go to the fairgrounds and wait there.
   
Parking on or along the interstate will not be allowed.
    
Transportation officials say they plan to move the closure up to Tramway to at least allow local drivers access to the freeway.
    
They say access to the fairgrounds was one reason why Louisiana was the early choice to mark the closure.

“We don't want them out there stranded somewhere where we have to go out there and actually get them unstuck or try to get them to a city where they don't have a room,” NMDOT spokesperson, Phil Gallegos said. “At least here it's safe.”