PORTALES, NM — Following the treacherous winds of Sunday night, many Roosevelt County residents awoke to a tumbleweed nightmare. Many of the roads throughout the County have sustained a large influx of the weeds. Substantial blockages have also been reported on some State Highways such as NM 114, NM 236, NM 330, and NM 202. If you come to a road blocked by tumbleweeds, we urge you to not drive through the piles of weeds as you could damage your vehicle or start a fire.
“Following the late summer rains and extensive growth of tumbleweeds throughout the County, this will likely be an ongoing challenge throughout the winter and next spring,” stated Road Superintendent Rick Lovato. “We want to encourage property owners to protect their homes as we are facing an increased fire danger with so much more fuel this year.”
The County Road Department is running all blades and responding to calls as quickly as possible. They will be working to open up bus routes and roads for all residents, however, this is going to take time and much of the week. Winds are projected to blow again later this week, so this will remain a developing concern. If you have a road blocked, please contact Road Department at 575.356.5942 or rcrd@rooseveltcounty.com or call the Administration Office at 575.356.5307. You can also submit the road concern online through the County’s website at https://www.rooseveltcounty.com/?page_id=2489. Again, please travel safely and report any road blockages.
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