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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.