The Bureau of Reclamation says the integrity of a bridge burned by a wildfire in the farming community of Cibola is still structurally intact, and the agency plans to seek funding to replace the collapsed span.
On Aug. 11, the Bureau of Reclamation held a stakeholders meeting to discuss the bridge collapse, along with several other agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and La Paz County.
La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, who was among the attendees, said the bridge was inspected by engineers from the Bureau of Reclamation, and the structural integrity of the bridge is “fine.”
The agency submitted a notice of intent to the Federal Highway Administration to secure emergency funding to remove the damaged bridge section from the river.
Irwin said the Bureau intends to replace the damaged section, but will need to secure funding, which could be a lengthy process.
Irwin, who is from Cibola, says the bridge was the only remaining land access point to the geographically isolated part of the state, making it more difficult for farmers to get to their fields.
“To move their equipment and to do farming over there and, and have access to that area. There is access, but now, now it's a lot further,” Irwin said.
Irwin said farmers now have to travel up to 15 miles out of the way and cross into California to access fields on the opposite side of the Colorado River.
The Hart Mine Road bridge was the second bridge in Cibola to be rendered unusable by wildfire in less than a year.
On Aug. 1, 2025, the Oxbow bridge in Cibola also collapsed due to a wildfire. Irwin said the county was not selected for a grant to replace the bridge, which would cost around $13.2 million.
“With the bridge being burnt out, you know, now they would have to take their equipment up and around, you know, literally up to up to the farmers bridge and kind of cut over to the other side to go down,” Irwin said.
Irwin says the river is now open to boat traffic as guidance lights were installed allowing traffic to proceed around the collapsed area.
-
Gateway is one of the first 13 airports to offer Gateside by TSA Precheck, which allows non-travelers to pass through security to access restaurants, shops or to visit with friends and family. -
Arizona drivers can expect to spend much more at the pump this year compared to last. -
The investment goes toward modernizing the around 55 mile long stretch between the Lukeville-Sonoyta border crossing into Arizona and Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point. -
Phoenix has now covered 200 miles of city streets with cool pavement. The city has been applying the light, reflective coating since 2020 with the goal of reducing the urban heat island effect.
-
The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened a new tunnel as part of a project to construct a free-flowing interchange that will reduce delays on the main route between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
