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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,015 |
| COOKS SLOUGH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,246 |
| SULPHUR CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,050 |
| SULPHUR CREEK DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,226 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,836 |
| MOCZYGEMBA CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,090 |
| CIBOLO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,090 |
| JACOBS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,006 |
| MANKA LAKE SLOUGH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,174 |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,174 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,174 |
| HONDO CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,268 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,042 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,770 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,111 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,111 |
| ROCK QUARRY BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,370 |
| MUSTANG CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,586 |
| SULPHUR CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,574 |
| NUECES RIVER | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,881 |
| NUECES RIVER RELIEF | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,120 |
| LITTLE GAMBLE GULLY | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,049 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 6,007 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,206 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,206 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,206 |
| EAST YEGUA CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,204 |
| TEHUACANA CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 443 |
| CANEY CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 443 |
| CANEY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,663 |
| DART BLUE LINE | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 9,685 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK TRIB | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,634 |
| TIMBER CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 70,035 |
| ELM FORK TRINITY RIVER | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 84,023 |
| ELM FK TRINITY RIV REL 2 | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 84,023 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,028 |
| JONES CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,315 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 863 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 863 |
| SABINE RIVER | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,906 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,446 |
| GLADE CREEK | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,446 |
| BRANCH OF SAND CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,136 |
| SAND CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,136 |
| DAVIS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,136 |
| ALBRITTON GULLEY | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,045 |
| CEDAR BAYOU | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 37,134 |
| OUTFALL CHANNEL | Texas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 10,307 |
| OUTFALL CHANNEL | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 10,307 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,085 |
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.