Irr SR 261 over Little Colorado River
Apache County, Arizona · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Irr SR 261 over Little Colorado River in Apache County, Arizona, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1955, making it 70 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 378 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2024).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 116 of the 258 inventoried bridges in Apache County rated fair (45.0%); 16 (6.2%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated September 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It is coded scour critical (NBI item 113 = 3): scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (34.1035, -109.3431)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Continuous steel stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 225 ft |
| Location | 0.1 mi S of Jct SR 260 |
| NBI structure number | 01040 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | September 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 3: scour critical: foundations unstable for the assessed or calculated scour |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Arizona department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Apache County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irr I 40; EB over Black Creek | 1967 | 25,552 | Fair |
| Irr I 40; EB & WB over Wash | 1964 | 25,270 | Good |
| Irr I 40; EB & WB over Cedar Point Wash | 1949 | 25,270 | Good |
| Irr I 40; EB & WB over Wash | 1963 | 22,521 | Good |
| Irr I 40; EB & WB over Wash | 1966 | 22,224 | Fair |
| Irr I 40; EB & WB over Wash | 1962 | 22,224 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Apache County, AZ bridge conditions · every bridge in Apache County · Arizona bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.