Rio Puerco Bridge Explained

Rio Puerco Bridge
Designated Other1:N.M. State Register of Cultural Properties
Designated Other1 Date:May 9, 1997
Designated Other1 Number:1662[1]
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Coordinates:35.0335°N -106.9421°W
Built:1933
Builder:Kansas City Structural Steel Company
F.D. Shufflebarger
Architecture:Parker through truss bridge
Added:July 15, 1997
Area:less than one acre
Refnum:97000735

The Rio Puerco Bridge is a Parker through truss bridge located on historic U.S. Route 66 (US 66) in western Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States, that is listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Description

The bridge crosses the Rio Puerco and was built in 1933. It is located approximately 19miles west of Albuquerque.

It was built to carry a past alignment of US 66 over the Rio Puerco, and in 1997 carried a frontage road for Interstate 40 (I-40). It no longer carries traffic, and has been bypassed by a different frontage road bridge.[2]

The single-span Parker through truss steel bridge was fabricated by the Kansas City Structural Steel Company and built by F.D. Shufflebarger in 1933. Its substructure includes two concrete piers and massive concrete abutments set upon timber pilings. The total bridge length is 330feet, including the 250feet span, which has ten 25feet panels, and two 40feet approaches.

It is located 40yd north of the I-40, about 8.9miles west of I-40 westernmost exit at Albuquerque.[3]

The bridge was added to the NRHP July 15, 1997.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State and National Register Spreadsheet . New Mexico Department of Historic Preservation . December 20, 2022 . Excel .
  2. (as well as by 2006 and 2012 photos)
  3. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=97000735}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Rio Puerco Bridge / NMSHTD #2530]. Kammer. David. National Park Service. December 1996. October 29, 2018. With