Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On our many trips through Albuquerque New Mexico over the last decade or so, we traveled I-40 between Albuquerque and Flagstaff, Arizona. Descending into the Rio Puerco Valley, a historic bridge attracted our attention and we left the Interstate to find ourselves on historic Route 66. The “Mother Road” was improved over the years in this area and became a frontage road for I-40 upon its completion.

From this view of the bridge, where I was standing on the shoulder of the frontage road bridge, you can see in the distance traffic moving on I-40. Looking to the far left end of the bridge, you can see the vehicles traveling from Albuquerque. To take a side trip to visit the bridge, take I-40 exit 140. As a bonus, you can continue on old Route 66 to rejoin I-40 at exit 149 if you’re traveling eastbound. Westbound travelers can exit on 149 and rejoin the Interstate at exit 140.

The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. In 1999, the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department replaced it but preserved the historic bridge. The preserved bridge is no longer open to traffic, but pedestrians can stroll across the Parker Truss bridge designed and built in 1933 as part of the Works Progress Administration program. The bridge has a single-span structure of 250 feet (76 m) and is one of the longest bridges of its type in New Mexico. The design is particularly appropriate for the Rio Puerco as its violent flooding washed away many bridges over the years.

As we continue our Transatlantic cruise, I only have about 20 minutes per day of Internet access. Please comment knowing I will read them, but won’t have much time for writing my usual comments until we return to the United States in early April.

John Steiner