County profile · official public datasets

Rio Arriba County, NM

160 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 47.5% rated Good, 46.3% Fair, 6.3% Poor.

160
Public bridges
47.5%
Good condition
6.3%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

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

23rd
of 32 on Poor share
6.3%
Poor-condition share
160
public highway bridges
1973
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.

Rio Arriba County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Rio Arriba County ranks #23 of 32 New Mexico counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 6.3%). Rio Arriba County, New Mexico contains 160 public highway bridges. Roughly 47.5% are rated “Good,” 46.3% “Fair,” and 6.3% “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

160

Public highway bridges in Rio Arriba County

Good condition

47.5%

76 of 160 rated 7-9

Fair condition

46.3%

74 of 160 rated 5-6

Poor condition

6.3%

10 of 160 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#23 of 32

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

Condition distribution

Share of 160 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
47.5% (76)
Fair
46.3% (74)
Poor
6.3% (10)

Rio Arriba County's Poor-condition bridges carry 24,007 vehicle crossings a day

That is 4.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 6.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 2,401 crossings a day against 3,678 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 160 of 160 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

49.4% of Rio Arriba County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

79 of the 160 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 47.5% 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 92.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

NM-68 NB over SANTA CRUZ RIVER, built 1957, carries 22,174 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 10-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 24,007 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Rio Arriba County's bridges were built

160 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 26 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 16.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1973) matches the New Mexico average (1973).

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

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

The 5 New Mexico counties nearest Rio Arriba County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 6.3% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1973 against a peer-group mean of 1972 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 Rio Arriba County and the 5 New Mexico counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Socorro County 188 7.4%
Sandoval County 182 4.9%
San Miguel County 175 8%
San Juan County 174 6.3%
Rio Arriba County (this page) 160 6.3%
Colfax County 140 5%

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 Rio Arriba 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 Rio Arriba County, both outside New Mexico so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NM (160 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside NM (1973 here).

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

All bridges (160)

39-0353

Fair

Over: AMARGO CREEK

0.05 M S JCT US-64/CR-356, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 2009 Load: 4.1 t ADT: 156

NM-112

Fair

Over: EL VADO SPILLWAY

15 miles west jct. US 84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1934 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 230

FDR 274

Fair

Over: VALLECITOS RIVER

3.4 NW/O NM 111 INT, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1959 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 125

NM-554

Fair

Over: EL RITO CREEK

NM 554 at milepost 12.29, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1957 Load: 11.5 t ADT: 1,098

FDR 474

Fair

Over: RIO CHAMA

2.7 MI NW/O BIG EDDY BOAT, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1989 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 99

FDR 42

Fair

Over: TUSAS RIVER

0.15 MI W/O US 64 INT, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1937 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 75

NM-68

Fair

Over: CANADA DE LAS ENTRANAS

NM 68 MM 14.8, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1966 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 5,651

US-285

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

11.4 MI N OF JCT NM-74, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1941 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 3,004

US-285

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

8.60 MI N OF US-64 @ T.P., Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1941 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 1,555

NM-554

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

3.55 MI E OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1942 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,098

NM-554

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

6.1 MI E OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1942 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,098

NM-554

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

9.05 MI E OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1942 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,098

FR-8402

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.80 MI N JCT US 285, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1933 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 156

US-84

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

5.90 MI N NM-554 /EL RITO, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,300

US-84

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

6.80 MI N NM-554 /EL RITO, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,300

US-84

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.68 MI N NM-96/ABIQUIU, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,893

US-64/84

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.30 MI S OF JCT NM-17, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,418

US-64/84

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

3.65 MI S OF JCT NM-17, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,418

US-285

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

6.7 MI N OF JCT US-64, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,555

US-285

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

5.80 MI N OF JCT US-64, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,555

US-285

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.40 MI N OF US-64 @ T.P., Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1941 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,555

US-84/285

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE

0.3 MI E OF JCT NM30, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1980 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 8,513

39-0070

Fair

Over: RIO DE PENASCO

2.40 MI S NM-580 & NM, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1980 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 156

39-0065

Fair

Over: RIO DE PENASCO

0.25 MI N JCT NM75/DIXON, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1980 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 156

FL-5349

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE

0.30 MI W OF NM 68, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1940 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 9,041

US-84

Fair

Over: ARROYO DEL TORO

6.2 MI N OF JCT US-285, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1976 Load: 26.1 t ADT: 10,606

NM-68

Fair

Over: RIO EMBUDO

0.20 MI S OF JCT NM-75, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1985 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 5,651

NM-68

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.20 MI N OF JCT NM-75, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1940 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,371

FDR 70

Fair

Over: AMERICAN CREEK

2 MI SE/O SAN GREGORIO TR, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1988 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 75

RA County Rd-322

Fair

Over: ROCK LAKE CREEK

15.7 MI W US 64/84 PARKVI, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1997 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 156

NM-233

Fair

Over: CHAMA RIVER

0.5 MI N OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1984 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 657

NM-68 SB

Fair

Over: ARROYO DEL PALACIO

1.30 MI N OF NM-389, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1986 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 8,652

NM-68 SB

Fair

Over: CANADA ANCHA

4.60 MI N OF NM-389, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1986 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 8,652

NM-68 SB

Fair

Over: RIO DE TRUCHAS

12.380 N Jct US 84/285, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1986 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 5,651

FDR 44

Fair

Over: BORRACHO CREEK

0.3 MI W/O CO RD 250 INT, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1953 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 60

US-84

Fair

Over: ARROYO NUTRIAS

9.53 MI S OF JCT NM 531, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1954 Load: 32.0 t ADT: 1,504

US-64/84

Fair

Over: RITO DE TIERRA AMARILLA

0.10 MI S OF JCT NM-531, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1954 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,915

NM-68

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.80 MI N OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,628

US-64

Fair

Over: CANONES CREEK

5.0 MI S JCT NM-17/CHAMA, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,418

NM-111

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

JCT NM-519 @ LA MADERA, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125

NM-111

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.4 MI N OF JCT NM-519, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125

NM-75

Fair

Over: RIO PENASCO

NM 75 MM 3.05, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,120

NM-554

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

8.5 W OF JCT NM-111, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,098

NM-554

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.50 MI W OF JCT NM-111, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,098

NM-68

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

5.07 MI N OF US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,149

IRR/NM-30

Fair

Over: GUACHUPANGE ARROYO

0.30 MI S OF JCT US-84, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,195

NM-30

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

4.35 MI NORTH JCT NM-502, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,416

US-84

Fair

Over: CHAMA RIVER

CHAMA RIVER AT ABIQUIU, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,300

39-057

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE

0.5 MI W OF JCT NM-68, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 152

39-0194

Fair

Over: CANONES CREEK

3.0 MI S OF NM 96, Rio Arriba, NM

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 156
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.