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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 2,797
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 2,797
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 500
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 3,698
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 3,698
SEDILLO CANYON New Mexico Fair 1948 78 34,941
TABLAZON CANYON New Mexico Fair 1948 78 4,557
Tijeras Arroyo New Mexico Fair 1948 78 4,557
ARROYO SAN ANTONIO New Mexico Fair 1948 78 4,557
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 2,198
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
ELK CANYON New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 749
SOAPBERRY DRAW New Mexico Fair 1948 78 13,540
SOAPBERRY DRAW New Mexico Good 1948 78 13,540
SOAPBERRY DRAW New Mexico Good 1948 78 6,931
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 9,136
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1948 78 9,136
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 710
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 863
WEST YARD DRAW New Mexico Fair 1948 78 9,162
SILVA CREEK New Mexico Fair 1948 78 2,386
SAN VICENTE ARROYO New Mexico Fair 1948 78 19
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1948 78 2,797
DRAINAGE DITCH New Mexico Good 1948 78 600
Unnamed Waterway New Mexico Fair 1949 77 562
Salt Water Wash New Mexico Fair 1949 77 724
Unnamed Waterway New Mexico Fair 1949 77 15,888
CARLISLE CANYON New Mexico Fair 1949 77 167
MOORE CANYON New Mexico Poor 1949 77 167
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 257
NORTHRUP CANYON New Mexico Good 1949 77 421
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 562
SURRENDER CANYON New Mexico Fair 1949 77 562
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 2,505
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 5,664
TORREON CREEK New Mexico Fair 1949 77 710
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 421
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Fair 1949 77 11,366
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1949 77 4,281
RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST New Mexico Poor 1950 76 24,827
BNSF Railroad New Mexico Good 1950 76 562
BLUE WATER CREEK New Mexico Poor 1950 76 100
Gila River New Mexico Fair 1950 76 167
IRRIGATION CANAL New Mexico Poor 1950 76 1,406
Rio Grande River New Mexico Fair 1950 76 1,965
UNNAMED WATERWAY New Mexico Good 1950 76 4,433

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.