NM FS 220(1), Romero Creek Bridge

The Romero Creek Bridge project is a federally funded construction initiative located within the Gila National Forest in western-central New Mexico, primarily managed by the Department of Transportation’s Central Federal Lands Division. This project is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside, emphasizing participation from small businesses. The scope involves replacing a deteriorated single-span bridge over Romero Creek on Forest Route 220, with the existing structure measuring approximately 30.4 feet in length and 16 feet in width. The new bridge will be a prefabricated steel structure, complemented by roadway improvements such as paving the approaches for 100 feet on each side to prevent debris and sediment from entering the stream, and installing guardrails and guardrail terminals for safety. The terrain is rolling and mountainous, with elevations reaching up to 8,300 feet, and the work is scheduled to commence in fall 2025, with an estimated completion by fall 2026, avoiding winter months due to weather constraints. The project includes significant work items such as the removal of the existing bridge, embankment construction, installation of roadway aggregate and asphalt pavement, and the installation of structural concrete and guardrails. Estimated costs range from $700,000 to $2 million. The project’s timeline anticipates advertisement in summer 2025, with construction beginning in the fall, and it will utilize approximately 50 cubic yards of structural concrete, 250 tons of roadway aggregate, and 14 feet by 48 feet of prefabricated steel bridge. The project’s importance is underscored by its proximity to a main haul route for future timber extraction and restoration activities, making timely completion critical for ongoing forest management and conservation efforts.