Historic Bridges in New Mexico
719 bridges built before 1951 in New Mexico still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 719 bridges in New Mexico built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH CANADIAN RIVER | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 150 |
| TECOLOTE CREEK | New Mexico | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| Pecos River | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 14,758 |
| WILLOW SPRING CANYON | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,168 |
| Unnamed waterway | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 6,011 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 919 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 919 |
| IRRIGATION DITCH | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 337 |
| BOHANAN ARROYO | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,384 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| FORT CUMMINGS DRAW | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,560 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 531 |
| RITO CREEK | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 531 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,640 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,640 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,977 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,977 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,977 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,977 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,977 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,535 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,535 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,310 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 924 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,495 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,358 |
| ARMSTRONG CANYON | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 863 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 863 |
| ARMSTRONG CANYON | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 863 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,062 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| BERNAL CREEK | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 254 |
| DEER CREEK | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 16,039 |
| DRY ARROYO | New Mexico | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,531 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.