County profile · official public datasets

McKinley County, NM

289 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 36.7% rated Good, 55% Fair, 8.3% Poor.

289
Public bridges
36.7%
Good condition
8.3%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

McKinley County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

29th
of 32 on Poor share
8.3%
Poor-condition share
289
public highway bridges
1976
avg year built

Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.

McKinley County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, McKinley County ranks #29 of 32 New Mexico counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 8.3%). McKinley County, New Mexico contains 289 public highway bridges. Roughly 36.7% are rated “Good,” 55% “Fair,” and 8.3% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.

Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.

Total bridges

289

Public highway bridges in McKinley County

Good condition

36.7%

106 of 289 rated 7-9

Fair condition

55%

159 of 289 rated 5-6

Poor condition

8.3%

24 of 289 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#29 of 32

Among New Mexico counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 289 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
36.7% (106)
Fair
55% (159)
Poor
8.3% (24)

McKinley County's Poor-condition bridges carry 62,266 vehicle crossings a day

That is 2.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 8.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 2,594 crossings a day against 9,523 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.

Computed over the 289 of 289 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

50.2% of McKinley County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

145 of the 289 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 36.7% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.

Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

One structure carries 38.7% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

I-40 WBL over GOV ORD BASE/LOCAL RD., built 1963, carries 24,086 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 24-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 62,266 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When McKinley County's bridges were built

289 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 53 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 18.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1976) matches the New Mexico average (1973).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How McKinley County compares with New Mexico's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 New Mexico counties nearest McKinley County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 8.3% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1976 against a peer-group mean of 1973 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 31 New Mexico counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for McKinley County and the 5 New Mexico counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
McKinley County (this page) 289 8.3%
Doña Ana County 261 3.1%
Santa Fe County 255 1.6%
Socorro County 188 7.4%
Sandoval County 182 4.9%
San Miguel County 175 8%

Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to McKinley County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year

Two NBI-derived peer sets for McKinley County, both outside New Mexico so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NM (289 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside NM (1976 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

Fair-condition bridges (159)

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: BNSF R/R Spur

8.6 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 24,086

NM-605

Fair

Over: ARROYO DEL PUERTO

12.6 MI N OF JCT NM-122, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 2,368

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.20 MI W OF EXIT-47, McKinley, NM

Built 1936 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,254

NM-118

Fair

Over: Caltalpa Canyon

.1 M W BOARDMAN RD/GALLUP, McKinley, NM

Built 1931 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,257

NM-118

Fair

Over: Unnamed Waterway

5.6 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 530

NM-118

Fair

Over: Salt Water Wash

11.4 M East Of Ariz Line, McKinley, NM

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 682

NM-118

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.8 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 530

NM-118

Fair

Over: SURRENDER CANYON

4.9 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 530

NM-118

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

13.15 MI E OF ARIZ LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,120

NM-118

Fair

Over: Twin Buttes Wash

1.2 MI W OF I-40 EXIT-16, McKinley, NM

Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,120

NM-118

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

.4 mi E. of I-40 exit 16, McKinley, NM

Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,207

NM-118

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.9 MI E OF I-40 EXIT-26, McKinley, NM

Built 1946 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,746

NM-118

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

6.3 MI E OF US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1946 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,746

IRR/NM-602

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

26.2 MI S OF NM-118, McKinley, NM

Built 1954 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,109

US-491

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

8.9 MI N OF LOOP31/GALLUP, McKinley, NM

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,474

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

16.6 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,142

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: SIX MILE CANYON

16.9 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,142

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CANYON

19.3 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,699

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: FOSTER CANYON

22.7 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,699

I-40 EBL/WBL/RAMP

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

25.4 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,518

I-40 E/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

14.5 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,299

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.1 MI E OF NM-400, McKinley, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,091

NM-118

Fair

Over: RIO PUERCO

9.3 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 682

NM-400

Fair

Over: I-40 EBL/WBL mp 33.6

JUNCTION I-40/NM-400, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,436

NM-412

Fair

Over: I-40 EBL/WBL mp 63.4

JUNCTION I-40/NM-412, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 310

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: NM-118

8.4 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,236

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.4 MI W OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,036

I-40 EBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.0 MI E OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.0 MI E OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

3.75 MI E OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 EBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

3.75 MI E OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

4.0 MI E OF NM-371, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.6 MI W OF EXIT-63, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.5 MI W OF NM-412, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.5 MI W OF NM-412, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,634

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

11.3 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,086

NM-400

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.1 MI S OF JCT I-40, McKinley, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,436

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: LOCAL RD TO REHOBETH

1.0 Mi. E. of I-40/NM118, McKinley, NM

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,086

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.0 MI E NM-118/EXIT-26, McKinley, NM

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,086

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: SUNDANCE ROAD

7.4 MI E OF US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,086

I-40 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.35 MI W OF US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,377

I-40 E/WBL

Fair

Over: ALLISON RD

19.9 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,377

NM-118

Fair

Over: WEST YARD DRAW

1.1 MI E OF I-40/EXIT-16, McKinley, NM

Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,207

31-Z001

Fair

Over: BNSF RAILROAD

0.1 MI N OF NM 118/GALLUP, McKinley, NM

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,424

NM-609

Fair

Over: BNSF R/R RIO PUERCO

0.1 MI N OF NM118/GALLUP, McKinley, NM

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,385

NM-602

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

17.0 MI S OF NM-118, McKinley, NM

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,417

FL-4430

Fair

Over: PARITTI WASH

0.54 MI E OF BOARDMAN DR, McKinley, NM

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,430

IRR/NM-53

Fair

Over: HORSEHEAD CANYON

0.01 MI E OF NM-602/ZUNI, McKinley, NM

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,544

FR-4004

Fair

Over: I-40 EBLS/WBLS @mp 39.9

CINIZA INTERCHG/JAMESTOWN, McKinley, NM

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 438

NM-264 EBL/WBL

Fair

Over: COAL MINE WASH

15.1 MI W OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,607
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.