Interstate 40 Closure at Chambers Redirected Traffic Through St Johns

On December 8, 2025 the St. Johns Police Department posted a traffic alert via the CrimeWatch AZ feed reporting that Interstate 40 was closed at Chambers following a serious collision on or about December 7 and 8. The advisory served as an official public safety notice to motorists and travelers, and it instructed drivers that regional traffic was being rerouted south on U.S. 191 through St. Johns.

The temporary diversion brought a noticeable increase in vehicular traffic through the town. Local officials and residents were advised to expect higher traffic volumes on U.S. 191, to use caution while driving, and to allow extra time for commutes and deliveries. The advisory emphasized public safety and the need for patience as emergency and road clearance operations proceeded on the interstate.

For a rural county that sits at a crossroads of regional routes, closures on a major corridor such as Interstate 40 have outsized effects. Rerouted trucks and passenger vehicles add wear and congestion to surface streets that are not designed for sustained high volumes. That creates pressures on local traffic management, school transportation schedules, and roadside businesses that encounter shifts in customer patterns during the diversion.

Coordination between state highway crews, regional law enforcement, and local first responders is key when an interstate closure forces alternate routing. The CrimeWatch AZ post functioned as a centralized communication tool in this instance, alerting motorists to the closure and the temporary routing plan. Motorists seeking the official advisory can view the CrimeWatch AZ feed at https://crimewatch.net/us/az/news.

As Interstate 40 reopened and crews cleared the collision scene, traffic patterns should gradually return to normal. In the meantime verify travel plans, follow posted detour instructions, and exercise caution on U.S. 191 while crews and travelers adjust to the temporary flow through St. Johns.