Gallup warns drivers about flashing signals after flooding

Drivers coming to flashing traffic signals in Gallup needed to slow down, yield as required, and treat the intersection as if the light were not operating normally after the city said water-related issues kept signals in flashing mode. The City of Gallup updated its Public Notice: Flashing Traffic Signals Update at 6:07 p.m. July 21 and said, "the following intersections remain in flashing mode due to water-related issues."

The notice tied the malfunction to the recent flash flooding and intense rain, not to a routine traffic cycle. That mattered across Gallup, where even one signal failure can disrupt commutes, business access, and emergency response on the city’s main travel routes.

The weather threat was still active as the warning went out. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque had a flash flood warning in effect for southwestern McKinley County from 7:25 p.m. July 21 until 12:15 a.m. July 22. Earlier in the month, a July 17 flash flood warning for central McKinley County said up to 1 inch of rain had fallen along parts of Interstate 40, State Road 371 and State Road 612, corridors that carry local traffic through and around Gallup.

Those repeated storm hits showed how quickly monsoon flooding can move from standing water on the road to broken traffic control. When signals flash instead of cycling normally, the risk is highest at busy crossings where drivers may already be dealing with wet pavement, reduced visibility and unpredictable traffic patterns.

The city’s warning gave residents a direct signal that road conditions were not back to normal. With floodwater still affecting infrastructure, the practical rule stayed simple: approach flashing intersections carefully, follow right-of-way rules, and expect delays until crews restore regular signal timing.