Historic Bridges in Texas
8,191 bridges built before 1951 in Texas still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 8,191 bridges in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOGWOOD CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 9,416 |
| HARRIS CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 9,416 |
| GILLS BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 23,032 |
| MAYHAW CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 18,381 |
| SAN MARCOS RIVER | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 6,326 |
| CLEAR FORK PLUM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 146 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 352 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 650 |
| SCHUMANN BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 31 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 11,656 |
| MIDDLE YEGUA CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,371 |
| KNOX BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 8,454 |
| BRUSH BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 8,454 |
| DIME BOX BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 8,454 |
| MEISENHEIMER BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,407 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,276 |
| COMANCHE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,472 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,279 |
| WOLF BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,279 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,671 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,671 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 19,489 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 28,878 |
| NORTH FORK DRY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 21,972 |
| SOUTH FORK DRY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 21,972 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,726 |
| MAHA CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 14,971 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 27,675 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 27,675 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,730 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 18,176 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,321 |
| SHOAL CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,778 |
| HANCOCK CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,401 |
| BULL BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,860 |
| NORTH SAN GABRIEL RIVER | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11,620 |
| HAMILTON BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 19,394 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,448 |
| SALT BRANCH CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,257 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,257 |
| BLACK CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 130 |
| LOW SMITH CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,143 |
| EAST ELM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,979 |
| W SQUIRREL CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,032 |
| HONDO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,271 |
| BLACK CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,069 |
| CHACON CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,367 |
| COOKS SLOUGH | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11,158 |
| NOLTON CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,048 |
| HEARD SLOUGH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,015 |
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.