Historic Bridges in Indiana
2,682 bridges built before 1951 in Indiana still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,682 bridges in Indiana built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH FORK SALT CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1838 | 188 | 400 |
| BURNETTS Creek | Indiana | Fair | 1840 | 186 | 288 |
| BOGGS CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 430 |
| Little RACCOON Creek | Indiana | Poor | 1856 | 170 | 62 |
| Little RACCOON Creek | Indiana | Poor | 1856 | 170 | 132 |
| BIG SHAWNEE Creek | Indiana | Fair | 1860 | 166 | 120 |
| SUGAR Creek | Indiana | Good | 1861 | 165 | 454 |
| BIG RACCOON Creek | Indiana | Poor | 1867 | 159 | 95 |
| LITTLE PIGEON CREEK | Indiana | Poor | 1869 | 157 | 137 |
| WILDCAT Creek | Indiana | Fair | 1870 | 156 | 81 |
| WILDCAT Creek | Indiana | Fair | 1870 | 156 | 91 |
| EEL RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1872 | 154 | 480 |
| ST JOSEPH RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1873 | 153 | 200 |
| DRY RUN | Indiana | Fair | 1874 | 152 | 140 |
| BIG BAYOU | Indiana | Poor | 1875 | 151 | — |
| BRUSH CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1875 | 151 | 350 |
| S FORK PATOKA RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1876 | 150 | 15 |
| PATOKA RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1877 | 149 | — |
| MISSISSINEWA RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1877 | 149 | 240 |
| FLATROCK RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1877 | 149 | 150 |
| EEL RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1877 | 149 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE SWALE | Indiana | Good | 1878 | 148 | 5 |
| BRANCH OF TANNERS CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1879 | 147 | 30 |
| BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 50 |
| SAND CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 30 |
| LICK CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 600 |
| BIG WALNUT CREEK | Indiana | Poor | 1880 | 146 | 1,400 |
| BIG WALNUT CREEK | Indiana | Good | 1880 | 146 | — |
| BIG WALNUT CREEK | Indiana | Poor | 1880 | 146 | 230 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 350 |
| LITTLE OTTER CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 150 |
| RIPLEY CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 350 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 145 |
| ST JOSEPH RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 200 |
| REBECCA KNIGHT DRAIN | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 175 |
| PLUMMER CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 106 |
| EEL RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 100 |
| LEATHERWOOD Creek | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 103 |
| FLAT CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 82 |
| PATOKA RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1884 | 142 | 150 |
| LITTLE BLUE RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1884 | 142 | 100 |
| S FK BLUE RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1884 | 142 | 613 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 102 |
| NINEVEH CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 143 |
| BR FALL FORK CLIFTY CREE | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 130 |
| HARVEY BRANCH SALT CREEK | Indiana | Poor | 1885 | 141 | 350 |
| BIG CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 100 |
| PATOKA RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1885 | 141 | 100 |
| BIG CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 250 |
| LAUGHERY CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 225 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.