Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARTRIDGE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| N FORK EMBARRASS R | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| SNYDER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 300 |
| LITTLE WILLOW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| MARLE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 200 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| MUDD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 200 |
| STOCKWELL BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 425 |
| STOCKWELL BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 250 |
| TRIB OF MILL CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 375 |
| W FORK EMBARRAS RV | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| KETTERING BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 1,250 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| BUCK CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| LAKE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 525 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| LITTLE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 550 |
| TOWN BRANCH CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 325 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 3,250 |
| EI RR | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 250 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 6,350 |
| N.BRANCH CHGO RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 1,475 |
| SANITARY&SHIP CANAL | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 22,000 |
| POPLAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 3,000 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 7,600 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 2,300 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 400 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 800 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 425 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| NO BUSINESS CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| TRIB BIG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| NO BUSINESS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| N FK EMBARRAS RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| TRIB SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 500 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 1,050 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 2,200 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 650 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 1,000 |
| STINKING CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 400 |
| VILLAGE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| BUTTER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 200 |
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.