A semi trailer on fire is being blamed for closing both lanes of Interstate 80 near Brule on Monday afternoon as 4th of July travelers were returning home from the long weekend. Traffic was already reduced to two lanes because of road construction. The Nebraska Department of Transportation announced the closure at mile-marker 117 around 3:07 p.m. They said traffic was backed up and were asking travelers to use alternative routes. Traffic was being directed to Highway 30 at Ogallala and Big Springs. One witness said traffic was backed up and at a stand still all the way back to Ogallala. A photo from Shannon Bogenhagen showed a semi trailer fully engulfed in flames with area fire departments attacking the blaze around the trailer. The semi tractor appeared to be disconnected from the trailer at the time of the fire.