County profile · official public datasets

Socorro County, NM

188 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 16.5% rated Good, 76.1% Fair, 7.4% Poor.

188
Public bridges
16.5%
Good condition
7.4%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Socorro County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.

26th
of 32 on Poor share
7.4%
Poor-condition share
188
public highway bridges
1961
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.

Socorro County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Socorro County ranks #26 of 32 New Mexico counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 7.4%). Socorro County, New Mexico contains 188 public highway bridges. Roughly 16.5% are rated “Good,” 76.1% “Fair,” and 7.4% “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

188

Public highway bridges in Socorro County

Good condition

16.5%

31 of 188 rated 7-9

Fair condition

76.1%

143 of 188 rated 5-6

Poor condition

7.4%

14 of 188 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#26 of 32

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

Condition distribution

Share of 188 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
16.5% (31)
Fair
76.1% (143)
Poor
7.4% (14)

Socorro County's Poor-condition bridges carry 58,234 vehicle crossings a day

That is 8.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 7.4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,160 crossings a day against 4,091 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 188 of 188 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

77.1% of Socorro County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

145 of the 188 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 16.5% 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 15.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

I-25 SBL over MADERA CANYON, built 1939, carries 9,099 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 14-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 58,234 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Socorro County's bridges were built

188 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1930s, when 52 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 27.7% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 85 to 94 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1961, 12 years older than the New Mexico average of 1973.

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

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

The 5 New Mexico counties nearest Socorro County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 7.4% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1961 against a peer-group mean of 1974 is 13 years older.

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

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Socorro County and the 5 New Mexico counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Socorro County (this page) 188 7.4%
Sandoval County 182 4.9%
San Miguel County 175 8%
San Juan County 174 6.3%
Rio Arriba County 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 Socorro 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 Socorro County, both outside New Mexico so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside NM (188 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside NM (1961 here).

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

All bridges (188)

NM-1

Fair

Over: Nogal Canyon

4.8 Mi N of Sierra C/L, Socorro, NM

Built 1937 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 25

US-60

Fair

Over: ABO ARROYO

7.12 MI E OF JCT NM-47, Socorro, NM

Built 1956 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 1,354

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: US-380

Junction I-25/US-380, Socorro, NM

Built 1964 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 5,976

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: US-380

Junction of I-25/US-380, Socorro, NM

Built 1964 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 5,976

US-60

Fair

Over: Rio Grande River

2.23 M E OF I-25/US-60, Socorro, NM

Built 1988 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 861

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: SPIKEY ARROYO

19.5 M N OF SIERRA CL, Socorro, NM

Built 1966 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 6,638

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: SHEEP CREEK

2.2 MI S JCT I-25/NM-107, Socorro, NM

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 6,165

US-60

Fair

Over: SAN FRANCISCO RIVERSIDE

1.7 MI E OF JCT I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1982 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 861

NM-1

Fair

Over: I-25 NBL and SBL

9.7 MI N OF SIERRA CL, Socorro, NM

Built 1968 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 25

WSMR P RT 7

Fair

Over: STORM DRAINAGE

2.6 KM NW OF RR7B0015, Socorro, NM

Built 1965 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 100

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: Nogal Arroyo

4.2 M S Jct NM-408/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 18,087

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: Nogal Arroyo

4.2 M S JCT NM-408/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 18,087

WSMR P RT 7

Fair

Over: STORM DRAINAGE

0.8 KM NW OF RR7B0016, Socorro, NM

Built 1965 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 100

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: Spikey Arroyo

19.4 N Sierra/Socorro CL, Socorro, NM

Built 1981 Load: 30.2 t ADT: 6,638

NM-408

Fair

Over: SOCORRO MAIN CANAL

1.14 M E OF LEMITAR, Socorro, NM

Built 1955 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,208

NM-408

Fair

Over: SOCORRO MAIN CANAL

5.4 M EAST OF LEMITAR, Socorro, NM

Built 1955 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 116

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: Cuba Road

9.3 Mi N Jct US-380/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1970 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 11,228

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: Cuba Road

9.3 Mi N Jct US-380/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1970 Load: 31.3 t ADT: 11,228

53-A146

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE

0.3 ON ESCONDIDA LAKE RD., Socorro, NM

Built 1986 Load: 31.5 t ADT: 134

Gravel Road

Fair

Over: LFCC

Bosque Apache N.W.R., Socorro, NM

Built 1995 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 20

US-60

Fair

Over: BNSF RAILROAD

6.90 MI E OF JCT NM 47, Socorro, NM

Built 1956 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 1,354

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: Manzanares Street

9.8 Mi N Jct US-380/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1970 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 11,228

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: Otero Avenue

10.0 MI N JCT US-380/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1970 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 11,228

US-60

Fair

Over: COAT DRAW

0.50 MI E OF JCT NM-47, Socorro, NM

Built 1940 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,354

NM-107

Fair

Over: I-25 NBL and SBL

Junction I-25 & NM-107, Socorro, NM

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 228

FR-2032

Fair

Over: I-25 NBL and SBL

3.65 M S Jct NM-107/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5

FR-2042

Fair

Over: I-25 NB/SB

6.0 M S Jct I-25/NM-408, Socorro, NM

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,137

US-380

Fair

Over: TAYLOR CANYON

18.2 MI W OF US54/CARRIZO, Socorro, NM

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,726

I-25 NBL/SBL FR RD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.8 MI N OF JCT NM-408, Socorro, NM

Built 1931 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

US-60

Fair

Over: SHAKESPEARE CANYON

10.1 M E NM-107/MAGDELENA, Socorro, NM

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,337

US-380

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

32.6 MI E OF I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,726

US-380

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

32.2 MI E OF I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,726

US-380

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

16.8 MI E OF NM-525, Socorro, NM

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,726

US-380

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

7.8 MI E OF NM-525, Socorro, NM

Built 1946 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,726

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: San Lorenzo Arroyo

4.8 M N Jct NM-408/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

I-25 NBL

Fair

Over: San Lorenzo Arroyo

4.8 M N Jct NM-408/I-25, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

I-25 SBL

Fair

Over: San Lorenzo Arroyo

5.1 Mi N of Jct NM-408, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: EAST ROAD(ESCONDIDA)

3.9 MI S OF I-25 EXIT 156, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,087

I-25 NBL/SBL/FR RD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

1.0 MI N OF JCT NM-408, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: ARROYO PUERTECITO

2.9 MI N OF JCT NM-408, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.4 MI N OF US-60/SOCORRO, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,526

US-60

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

0.1 MI W JCT NM 107/US 60, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,371

US-60

Fair

Over: AGUA CANYON

1.4 MI W JCT NM 107/US 60, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,371

US-60

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

2.0 MI W JCT NM 107/US 60, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,371

US-60

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

4.8 MI W JCT NM 107/US 60, Socorro, NM

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,371

US-60

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

18.3 E 107 IN MAGDALENA, Socorro, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,337

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: RYAN HILL CANYON

1.5 MI N OF JCT NM-178, Socorro, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,162

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

3.1 MI N OF JCT NM-1, Socorro, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,162

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

4.9 MI N OF JCT NM-1, Socorro, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,162

I-25 NBL/SBL

Fair

Over: UNNAMED WATERWAY

5.1 MI N OF JCT exit 124, Socorro, NM

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,162
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.