Total bridges
289
Public highway bridges in McKinley County
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.
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
- 1920s 1
1920–1929
1 bridges
- 1930s 17
1930–1939
17 bridges
- 1940s
1940–1949
22 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
25 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
53 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
49 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
39 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
39 bridges
- 2000s 19
2000–2009
19 bridges
- 2010s 20
2010–2019
20 bridges
- 2020s 5
2020–2029
5 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).
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.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley County (this page) | 289 | 36.7% | 55% | 8.3% | 1976 |
| Doña Ana County | 261 | 31.4% | 65.5% | 3.1% | 1975 |
| Santa Fe County | 255 | 44.3% | 54.1% | 1.6% | 1979 |
| Socorro County | 188 | 16.5% | 76.1% | 7.4% | 1961 |
| Sandoval County | 182 | 40.7% | 54.4% | 4.9% | 1979 |
| San Miguel County | 175 | 41.1% | 50.9% | 8% | 1972 |
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).
- Union County, AR · 289 bridges
- Butler County, IA · 289 bridges
- Grundy County, IA · 289 bridges
- Knox County, IN · 290 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside NM (1976 here).
- Marion County, IN · avg 1976 · 958 bridges
- Mohave County, AZ · avg 1976 · 641 bridges
- Comanche County, OK · avg 1976 · 593 bridges
- Prince George's County, MD · avg 1976 · 576 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (289)
FL-5402
FairOver: LITTLE PUERCO
Between Coal & NM 118, McKinley, NM
Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 674
I-40 E/WBL
FairOver: UNNAMED WATERWAY
1.8 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,247
NM-264
FairOver: UNNAMED WATERWAY
10.0 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,698
NM-264
FairOver: TSE BONITO WASH
3.4 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,607
NM-36
FairOver: KNIFE HILL CANYON
4.7 MI S OF JCT NM-53, McKinley, NM
Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 123
FL-4429
FairOver: LITTLE PUERCO
BETWEEN 3RD/4TH STR/GALLP, McKinley, NM
Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,582
FDR 178
FairOver: BLUEWATER CR
3.6 MI S/O BLUEWATER LAKE, McKinley, NM
Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200
K & G ROAD
FairOver: UNKNOWN CREEK
0.8 KM SW OF 142, McKinley, NM
Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10
IRR BIA RTE 5
FairOver: BRANCH WASH-NUTRIA LAKE
11.9 KM NORTH JCT 5 & 53, McKinley, NM
Built 1973 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 100
IRR BIA RTE N12
FairOver: TODILITO WASH
0.5 MI NORTH OF NAVAJO NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1961 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 8,443
IRR BIA RTE N12
FairOver: TWIN BUTTES WASH
5 MI NE OF FORT DEFIANCE, McKinley, NM
Built 1958 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,111
IRR BIA RTE N9
FairOver: COYOTE WASH
4 MI E COYOTE CANYON T.P., McKinley, NM
Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 2,672
I-40 WBL
FairOver: BNSF R/R SPUR
0.5 MI E OF US-491/GALLUP, McKinley, NM
Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 30,739
I-40 EBL
FairOver: COUNTY ROAD
4.6 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 43,549
I-40 WBL
FairOver: COUNTY ROAD
4.6 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 43,549
31-0020
FairOver: SALT WATER WASH
4.2 Mi. S. of Jct. NM 118, McKinley, NM
Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 318
Sundance Road
FairOver: Unnamed Waterway
3.4 M S NM 118, McKinley, NM
Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 318
IRR BIA RTE N9
FairOver: KIMINOLA WASH
13.1 MI NE OF CROWNPOINT, McKinley, NM
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 882
IRR BIA RTE N7140
FairOver: MANUELITO CREEK
17 MI SW OF GALLUP NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 404
IRR BIA RTE N7140
FairOver: RIO PUERCO WASH
13 MI SW OF GALLUP NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 178
IRR BIA RTE N7140
FairOver: DEFIANCE WASH
14 MI SW OF GALLUP NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 178
IRR BIA RTE N7140
FairOver: DEFIANCE WEST WASH
19 MI SW OF GALLUP NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 178
IRR BIA RTE N9
FairOver: PEACH SPRINGS WASH
3 MI E COYOTE CANYON T.P., McKinley, NM
Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,777
IRR BIA RTE N543
FairOver: SLICK ROCK WASH
0.2 MI N PIGEON SPRINGS, McKinley, NM
Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 531
IRR BIA RTE N54
FairOver: SLICK ROCK WASH
S AND E OF FT DEFIANCE AZ, McKinley, NM
Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 261
I-40 EBL
FairOver: Rio Puerco
8.0 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1965 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 24,086
I-40 WBL
FairOver: Rio Puerco
8.0 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1965 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 24,086
FL-4424
FairOver: LITTLE PUERCO
3rd Between Aztec & Coal, McKinley, NM
Built 2001 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 262
I-40 EBL
FairOver: BNSF R/R
3.2 MI W OF NM-400, McKinley, NM
Built 1963 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 24,086
I-40 EBL
FairOver: BNSF R/R Spur
8.6 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1963 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 24,086
IRR BIA RTE N7044
FairOver: WHITEWATER ARROYO WASH
1M W OF CHICHILTAH SCHOOL, McKinley, NM
Built 1983 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 304
NM-118
FairOver: RIO PUERCO
0.1 MI E OF NM-566, McKinley, NM
Built 1946 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,472
NM-371
FairOver: FIRST STREET
0.38 MI N OF I-40/THOREAU, McKinley, NM
Built 1986 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 3,485
IRR BIA RTE N9
FairOver: PEACH SPRINGS WASH
2.3 MI EAST COYOTE CANYON, McKinley, NM
Built 1970 Load: 35.9 t ADT: 1,135
IRR BIA RTE N9660
FairOver: WASH
4.2MI SE OF TWIN LAKES NM, McKinley, NM
Built 1976 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 83
IRR BIA RTE N11
FairOver: RIO PUERCO WASH
8.5 MI NE OF CHURCH ROCK, McKinley, NM
Built 1985 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 3,000
I-40 WBL
FairOver: RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST
7.9 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1963 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 20,247
I-40 EBL
FairOver: RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST
7.9 MI E OF ARIZ ST LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1963 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 20,247
31-0077
FairOver: UNNAMED WATERWAY
5.6 MI W OF NM-566 MP-5.6, McKinley, NM
Built 1995 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 318
31-0026
FairOver: SALT WATER WASH
4.9 Mi. South Int. I-40, McKinley, NM
Built 2003 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 318
I-40 EBL
FairOver: BNSF R/R SPUR
0.5 MI E OF US-491/GALLUP, McKinley, NM
Built 1980 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 30,739
I-40 WBL
FairOver: Rio Puerco
13.3 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 22,299
I-40 EBL
FairOver: Rio Puerco
13.3 MI E OF JCT US-491, McKinley, NM
Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 22,299
US-491
FairOver: NM-264
US-491/NM-264 INTERCHANGE, McKinley, NM
Built 1986 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 10,474
31-Z034
FairOver: UNNAMED WATERWAY
3.6 MI W NM-602 @ MP-18.6, McKinley, NM
Built 1995 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 318
I-40 WBL
FairOver: RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST
9.2 MILES E OF ARIZ LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1950 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 23,872
I-40 EBL
FairOver: RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST
9.2 MILES E OF ARIZ LINE, McKinley, NM
Built 1959 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 23,872
NM-609
FairOver: I-40 EBL/WBL mp 22.75
GALLUP / EXIT 22, McKinley, NM
Built 1978 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 14,216
31-0032
FairOver: SALT WATER WASH
.96 M S NM118/PORT ENTRY, McKinley, NM
Built 1997 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 318
I-40 EB
FairOver: NM-118
West Gallup Interchange, McKinley, NM
Built 1993 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 25,224
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
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.