Historic Bridges in Colorado
857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLDIER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 48 |
| SHOOKS RUN | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 932 |
| CHIMNEY ROCK CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,000 |
| CHIMNEY ROCK CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 860 |
| STILLWATER CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 4,900 |
| BOULDER CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 15,000 |
| SOUTH BOULDER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25,000 |
| VASQUEZ CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,000 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB. | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 53 |
| CLEAR CREEK SR | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 18,815 |
| BEAR CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 291 |
| W. PLUM BUSH CRK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 560 |
| PLUMBUSH CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 700 |
| E FORK OF W PLUM BUSH CR | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 560 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 700 |
| VEGA CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 700 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 570 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 570 |
| EIGHT MILE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 45 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 2,600 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6,700 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6,700 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6,700 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6,700 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6,700 |
| SOUTH ARKANSAS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 3,600 |
| COLD DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,800 |
| SPAULDING CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,200 |
| SALT CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 8,900 |
| PONCHA CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,800 |
| COW CREEK AR | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 6 |
| CUTLER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,800 |
| BRANCH OF RITCHIE GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,000 |
| FARMERS OXFORD DITCH | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 4,200 |
| FARMERS UNION CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,300 |
| BEATY CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 110 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 80 |
| LA JARA CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,300 |
| NAVAJO RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,100 |
| LITTLE NAVAJO RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,100 |
| COYOTE CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 1,100 |
| RIO SAN ANTONIO | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,200 |
| MIDDLE FK PURGATOIRE RVR | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 320 |
| MIDDLE FK PURGATOIRE RVR | Colorado | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 320 |
| RR SPUR | Colorado | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 1,700 |
| DRY CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1939 | 87 | 102 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| Fortification Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 127 |
| PLATTE AVENUE | Colorado | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 16,596 |
| PLATTE AVENUE | Colorado | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 7,042 |
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.