Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROSCOE BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 11,036 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 20,871 |
| MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 17,434 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 32,757 |
| CUMBERLAND RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 32,950 |
| REEDS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,069 |
| COOL SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,069 |
| GAP CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 491 |
| SOUTHERN RAILWAY | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 7,960 |
| STRINGERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 13,128 |
| PITTS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 33,844 |
| FALLING WATER CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 12,697 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 18,838 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,454 |
| MUSTER GROUND CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,617 |
| VAUGHT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 918 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 3,130 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,199 |
| BACON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,493 |
| PLEASANT RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 5,493 |
| BRUSHY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 10,957 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 10,669 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 4,082 |
| POPLAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 8,560 |
| BEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 18,146 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 18,146 |
| POPLAR SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,612 |
| BATTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 22,208 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 4,545 |
| RICH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 6,883 |
| BIG SEWEE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,430 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,430 |
| CROOKED FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 4,266 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 130 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,413 |
| SCUTCHEON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,413 |
| GARRETT BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,413 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,413 |
| OBION R. DRAINAGE CANEL | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,380 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,380 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,380 |
| IC RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 8,967 |
| GROVE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 11,770 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 6,586 |
| BULLOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,469 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 18,412 |
| STEWARTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,704 |
| HORN LAKE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 12,139 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 26,269 |
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.