Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 24 |
| MID. BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| FAIRDALE DRAIN | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 74 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 19 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 160 |
| SOUTH FORK GREEN RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,090 |
| COUNTY DRAIN 12 | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 30 |
| THIRTY MILE CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 15 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 80 |
| WHITE EARTH RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 72 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 116 |
| LITTLE HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,660 |
| FLAT CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,370 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,340 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,970 |
| SPRING CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,690 |
| BRANCH OF SAND CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,570 |
| SOUTH FORK-MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 850 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 970 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 1 |
| HEART BUTTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 25 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1942 | 84 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 25 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 30 |
| CART CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 24 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 30 |
| NORTH FORK PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 730 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 25 |
| NORTH FORK PARK | North Dakota | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 10 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 20 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 95 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 110 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 26 |
| WEST CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| POWERS LAKE | North Dakota | Good | 1945 | 81 | 365 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| RUSH RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
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.