Historic Bridges in Iowa
3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 49 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 118 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 59 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 26 |
| SMALL RUNNING CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 59 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 39 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 39 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 70 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 70 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 70 |
| UPPER IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 49 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| CANOE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 44 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 108 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | — |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 33 |
| NORTH BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 49 |
| NORTH BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 78 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 26 |
| CANOE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 39 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| FARMERS DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| ROCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 199 |
| WRIGHT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 46 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH 111 | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 47 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH 121 | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| BROKEN KETTLE CK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| STREAM-D.D.196 | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 748 |
| TURKEY RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 33 |
| BR OF CARRUTHERS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| DR TO ENGLISH CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 21 |
| NO BUSINESS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 170 |
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.