The deadly floods in the Village of Ruidoso have left many roads impassable, forcing them to remain closed.
The current map, as of Wednesday, July 9, of road closures by the Ruidoso All-Hazard Information Network, provided by the Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management, notes that many roads are washed out as a result of the rainfall. They include:
- Perk Canyon Drive, which is blocked south. The road on West Redwood Drive is washed out and is expected to remain closed until July 31.
- Hummingbird Lane is blocked southeast. The road washed out and is expected to be closed until July 14.
- Main Road is blocked east. The road is washed out and is expected to be closed until July 14.
- Valonia Lane and Ponderosa Drive are blocked north. Floods washed out the roads, and they are expected to be closed until July 31.
- Brady Canyon Road and Porr Drive are blocked north. Both roads are washed out and are expected to be closed until July 15.
“We had our morning briefing, and our crews are now out in the field assessing that damage,” said Kerry Gladden, the Public Information Officer for the Village of Ruidoso. “All night they were clearing debris off the roads that were impacted. It was historic flooding with the river cresting at 20 feet, which is five feet higher than the last historical mark. The (flooding) was very impactful.”
On Tuesday, according to the village of Ruidoso’s Facebook page, flooding forced emergency management crews to close Paradise Canyon, Country Club from Sudderth, Cedar Creek at Mechem, Cree Meadows from Metz to Wiley, and Alpine Village at Mechem.
Additional closures included Main Road into Upper Canyon at the traffic circle, Mechem in both directions at Brady Canyon, and Eagle Bridge was closed because of debris over the bridge. Finally, the flood gates at Gavilan Canyon Bridge were closed.