U.S. Route 70 in New Mexico
U.S. Route 70 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Globe, Arizona, east to Atlantic, North Carolina. In the U.S. state of New Mexico, US 70 extends from the Arizona state line south of Virden and ends at the Texas state line in Texico.
Route description
After entering the state of New Mexico, US 70 heads southeast signed as the Duncan Highway. after crossing the state line, it serves as the southern terminus for New Mexico State Road 92. US 70 does not have another highway junction for, where it meets New Mexico State Road 464 and New Mexico State Road 90 north of Lordsburg. At Lordsburg, US 70 joins Business Loop 10 and Motel Drive heading east, and joins Interstate 10 eastbound just outside the city. US 70 and I-10 will run concurrently for the next before splitting off in Las Cruces at exit 135. Signed as Picacho Avenue, US 70 passes through the unincorporated community of Fairacres and crosses the Rio Grande before meeting Main Street, where it follows it northbound. US 70 then junctions Interstate 25, signed as the Bataan Memorial Highway, and continues as a controlled-access highway until the town of Organ, before entering the foothills of the Organ Mountains.As a divided highway, US 70 crosses the Organ Mountains via the San Augustin Pass and descends to the valley floor of the Tularosa Basin, crossing the White Sands Missile Range. Overhead missile tests can close the highway for a few hours; this generally happens once or twice a week, and typically only for an hour at a time. Shortly after the interchange with New Mexico State Highway 213, the speed limit raises to and will continue until a border control checkpoint south of the entrance to White Sands National Park. The road then passes the entrance to White Sands National Park, and shortly after that passes the southern end of Holloman Air Force Base. It then turns northbound, and picks up a concurrency with US 54 upon entering Alamogordo, and continues north on the Charlie Lee Memorial Relief Route, a bypass west of the city. On the north end of Alamogordo, US 54/US 70 intersects the western terminus of US 82 near La Luz, and US 54/US 70 continues north. The concurrency with US 54 lasts until Tularosa, and the highway remains divided until US 70 and US 54 diverge. Continuing northeast, US 70 begins the ascent into the Sacramento Mountains and enters the Lincoln National Forest. The road then runs across the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and into the resort towns of Ruidoso and neighboring Ruidoso Downs. In Hondo, US 380 joins for a concurrency. US 70/US 380 then enters Roswell, signed as 2nd Street, with a bypass heading northeast with the US 70/US 285 Truck Route as part of the Roswell Relief Route. US 70 then meets US 285 at Main Street, and joins it northbound for a short concurrency. US 70 then heads northeast at the northern interchange with the Relief Route, continuing as a divided highway. Signed as 2nd Street, US 70 enters Portales, and splits into two one way roads in downtown before rejoining at Boston Avenue. US 70 then turns northeast towards Clovis. Signed as Prince Street, US 70 enters Clovis from the south. Once downtown, US 70 joins US 60/US 84 heading east, and will run concurrently with all three highways until Texico, where US 60 leaves just before the state line, and US 70/US 84 enter Texas.
History
When commissioned in 1926, ran from present day US 70 in Clovis, New Mexico through Vaughn, Willard all the way to Holbrook, Arizona. In 1932, US 70 was rerouted to El Paso, Texas, and the old routing was transferred to US 60 and US 260. In 1934, the routing of US 70 was changed again, to Las Cruces; the old route was transferred to US 54.On July 12, 2021, US 70 between NASA Road and the entrance of White Sands Missile Range was closed to traffic. The night before, heavy rain from thunderstorms caused about of mud to close the section. The highway was reopened the next day.