Dust forces another I-10 closure between Arizona, New Mexico

SAN SIMON, Ariz. (AP) -- A 60-mile stretch of Interstate 10 in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico has had to be closed again because of blowing dust from a farm field.

Arizona Department of Transportation officials say Monday afternoon's closure may last until the evening until winds settle down.

VIDEO: fox10phoenix.com/news-now

It's the second such closure in two days for that same stretch of I-10 and at least the sixth since late last month.

The closure runs from just east of Willcox, Arizona, to Lordsburg, New Mexico.

Traffic is being detoured 110 miles through Safford, Arizona, on U.S. 191 and U.S. 70.

The blowing dust is coming off a field near San Simon, Arizona.

State officials say they're working with the owner of recently cleared farm land to water it down and reduce the airborne dust.

If caught in a dust storm, follow these safety tips from the Arizona Dept. of Transportation and PullAsideStayAlive.org:

-- Immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
-- Completely exit the highway if you can.
-- Don't wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway.
-- Don't stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane.
-- Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers. You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
-- Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
-- Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.