One hundred and three years and counting.
That’s how long the Elgin Bridge has spanned Babocomari Creek, a setting shrouded by cottonwoods and tucked into a landscape where cicadas supply a summer serenade.
With no historic designation to protect it—despite Elgin resident Sue Downing’s best efforts to secure one—the bridge is scheduled for replacement. This comes after the pony truss structure received a “poor” integrity rating by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), one of two scoring systems based on standards such as width, approach and guardrails. Plus, the bridge scored low on historical significance since, it seems, no one has recorded its history.
Based on these evaluations, Santa Cruz County applied for and received $3.9 million of federal monies through the Off-System Bridge Project, with the project to be administered by ADOT.
It would seem the bridge’s time had come and gone.
But in an April 2025 communication with Stephanie Freeman, Downing read words that gave her reason to hope. Freeman is an ADOT Historic Preservation Specialist.
“ADOT is currently in the process of curating a cultural resource firm with an architectural historian who will be able to assist with evaluating the bridge,” Freeman wrote. “Once the firm is hired, we hope that we will be able to work with you and obtain your research to assist in the process of reevaluating the bridge.”
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 protects structures with historical significance. But making sure the bridge meets the qualification standards of the National Register of Historic Places is at question due to “alterations.” Jerry A. Cannon, a Tucson engineer who worked on Elgin Bridge upgrades in 1999, believes any alterations to date do not disqualify it from Register distinction. He also believes the bridge is in better shape than the one located on South River Road outside of Nogales. But that bridge is on the Registry.
In the meantime, ADOT moves forward with plans for demolition.
ADOT Public Information Officer Garin Groff said HDR, with a branch in Tucson, has been selected as the new bridge designer. “ADOT is currently working with HDR and the county to get HDR under contract to begin design,” wrote Groff in response to a Patagonia Regional Times inquiry. “The construction contractor will be identified after the design is complete. Construction is scheduled for fiscal year 2027.”
“Review of the National Register of Historic Places eligibility by an architectural historian is included in the scope of design,” Groff wrote. “The architectural historian’s assessment will be included in environmental clearance documentation. The timeline for environmental clearance tasks will be determined as part of the design schedule.”
Santa Cruz County, for its part, will be the project owner and sponsor, Groff wrote. Once design begins, the county will participate in project meetings and review all submittals.
A public meeting will also be held based on the design schedule. “It is anticipated that the architectural historian will attend the public meeting,” Groff wrote.
“I am hopeful that we can get them to revisit [the bridge’s] historical significance when they see what we have on her history and importance to the community,” said Downing.
In the meantime, Elgin Bridge, party like there’s no tomorrow. Because there may not be.