Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyHundreds of drivers were left stranded on a Valley freeway Sunday as a result of a monsoon storm that rolled in and flooded the roadway.
Both directions of the U.S. 60 near Mill Avenue were closed after water rose to several feet and drivers were stranded on either side of the flooded underpass.
Drivers were told to turn around in the middle of the road.
Eastbound lanes became westbound lanes, on-ramps became off-ramps and a stretch of the U.S. 60 looked like a large pond.
"I am a native, I've been here 36-years and I've never seen anything like this," said Dan Farnsworth who was forced to turn around.
Some drivers got out of their cars, checking out the unique situation while over-passes became a hot spot for people looking down on the flooded road and traffic mess.
"I don't think I've ever see this road flood out so quickly," said Tempe resident John Putman.
All lanes of the U.S. 60 re-opened around 9:30 p.m. Sunday after crews cleared clogged storm drains, pumped water off of the roadway and removed mud and debris.
ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel said water flowed down to the freeway from Tempe city streets carrying dirt with it that turned into mud.
That also caused storm drains to get backed up.
That's why Nintzel said an engineering solution may be needed at the city level.
ADOT says there are no guarantees freeways won't flood again if there is another extraordinary storm like Sunday's.
