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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIEDRA LUMBRE CANYON | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,160 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,515 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,501 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,501 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,501 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,582 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,587 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,587 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,587 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| JASPER ARROYO | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,515 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,515 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,515 |
| RIO MORA | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 492 |
| RIO CEBOLLA | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,911 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,535 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,535 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,535 |
| TULAROSA CREEK | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,367 |
| TULAROSA CREEK | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,367 |
| CANADA ESTACADA | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,862 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 568 |
| NM-72 | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 133 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,320 |
| MCKINLEY DITCH | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,578 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| IRRIGATION CANAL | New Mexico | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| IRRIGATION CANAL | New Mexico | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 337 |
| LEASBURG CANAL | New Mexico | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,569 |
| LEASBURG CANAL | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 337 |
| DRY CIMARRON RIVER | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 57 |
| MORA RIVER | New Mexico | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 189 |
| IRRIGATION CANAL | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8 |
| SNOW CANYON | New Mexico | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,853 |
| CRYSTAL CREEK | New Mexico | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 254 |
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.