Historic Bridges in South Dakota
1,118 bridges built before 1951 in South Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,118 bridges in South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAND CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 156 |
| PEARL CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 103 |
| BIG SIOUX RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 63 |
| JAMES RIVER | South Dakota | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 98 |
| CLAY CK DITCH | South Dakota | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 97 |
| DRY CHOTEAU CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 60 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 35 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| SPEARFISH CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| ROCK CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| TURTLE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1903 | 123 | 31 |
| JAMES RIVER | South Dakota | Poor | 1904 | 122 | 35 |
| CHOTEAU CREAK | South Dakota | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 50 |
| EMANUEL CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 20 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 60 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1905 | 121 | 56 |
| Inlet Canal | South Dakota | Good | 1906 | 120 | 1 |
| Crow Creek Wasteway | South Dakota | Fair | 1907 | 119 | 1 |
| BIG SIOUX RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 92 |
| COBB CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1908 | 118 | 25 |
| SPLIT ROCK CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1908 | 118 | 35 |
| TURTLE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1908 | 118 | 55 |
| VERMILLION RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 15 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 85 |
| TURTLE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 126 |
| SNATCH CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 60 |
| MEDARY CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 92 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 62 |
| VERMILLION RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 40 |
| WILLOW CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 73 |
| FIRESTEEL CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 390 |
| STRAY HORSE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 43 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| REE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 43 |
| WOLF CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| ROCK CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| ROCK CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| JAMES RIVER | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 31 |
| FOSTER CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| TURKEY RIDGE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| EAST FORK VERMILLION RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| VERMILLION RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| PEARL CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 56 |
| SHUE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 56 |
| CHOTEAU CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 60 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 48 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 20 |
| BIG SIOUX RIVER | South Dakota | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 7,100 |
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.