Rio Grandé Bridge at Radium Springs

The state highway department built the bridge in 1933, and in 1997 it was entered in the National Register of Historic Places as part of a statewide survey of historic highway bridges, rated among the best examples of its type. David Kammer's nomination describes nineteen spans set on eighteen creosote-treated timber pile bents, crossing the river where it runs in a well-defined channel some forty miles below Elephant Butte. It carried NM-185 until a replacement bridge was built in 2003, and since then it has served walkers, cyclists and riders.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Rio Grandé Bridge at Radium Springs This structure - one of the best surviving examples of timber and beam bridge construction in the state - was erected in 1933. The superstructure consists of 19 spans, each 25 feet in length. The roadway is 475 feet long. During the 1920s and 30s, timber beam bridges were an economical and easily maintained solution for crossing arroyos and waterways. Although the bridge no longer carries motorized traffic, it continues to serve pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mesilla Plaza — 17 mi
  A plaza laid out in 1848 by people who meant to stay in Mexico, American six years later, a stage stop and Civil War headquarters, and scene of a deadly political riot in 1871.

More markers nearby

• Fort Selden Cemetery — 0.5 mi
• Paraje de Robledo — 0.5 mi
• Jornada del Muerto — 4.5 mi
• Paraje San Diego — 4.5 mi