Historic Bridges in West Virginia
1,245 bridges built before 1951 in West Virginia still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,245 bridges in West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DECKERS CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 7,500 |
| SCOTTS RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 450 |
| ROBINSON RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,900 |
| ROBINSON RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 2,900 |
| SLEEPY CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 1,000 |
| SHEEP RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 100 |
| HUSHERS RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,900 |
| CUTRIGHT RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 6,100 |
| FRENCH CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | — |
| FRENCH CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| BULL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| Carney Fork | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| Laurel Fork | West Virginia | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 700 |
| MILL CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 80 |
| TRACE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 200 |
| RIGHT FK MERRITT CK | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 300 |
| STRAIGHT CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 300 |
| L FK WEST FK L KANAWHA R | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 150 |
| NICUT RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 150 |
| ARNOLD CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 100 |
| ARNOLD CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 100 |
| MEATHOUSE FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 250 |
| THIRD RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,800 |
| LYNCH RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,900 |
| North Fork Tomlinson Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 2,800 |
| MILL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,200 |
| WEST FORK RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 10 |
| Buffalo Creek | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 800 |
| WARRIOR FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 750 |
| PYLES FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 3,300 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| GLADY CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,200 |
| PATTERSON CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 400 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,600 |
| Waddles Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,200 |
| Browns Run | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,400 |
| Dixon Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 750 |
| McGraws Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 850 |
| RAVINE | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 5,700 |
| WIGNER RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 900 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 90 |
| Scheidler Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,300 |
| HARLAN RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,200 |
| BERRY FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,500 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 7,000 |
| BURNT CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 585 |
| SMOKEY BRANCH | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 633 |
| FORT RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 1,100 |
| LT FK SANDY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 300 |
| SAMMY RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 1,300 |
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.