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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WALNUT CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,880 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,809 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,520 |
| TRIB TO DEER CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,596 |
| LIVE OAK CREEK | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10,251 |
| TRIB TO COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 19,080 |
| HOLLIDAY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 426 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 668 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 12,227 |
| NORTH FORK BUFFALO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 12,227 |
| STEVENS CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 12,227 |
| TRIB OF BUFFALO CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,560 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 716 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 341 |
| COLE CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| LONG CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
| GILBERT CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 16 |
| POND CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,490 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| PARADISE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 22 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 221 |
| McClellan Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 193 |
| Red Deer Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,147 |
| N Fork of Red River | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 140 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,507 |
| West Fork Big Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,581 |
| East Fork Big Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,618 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,038 |
| Cottonwood Tributary | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 27 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 213 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 213 |
| East Amarillo Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 986 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,439 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,439 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,258 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,294 |
| RUNNING WATER DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,811 |
| RUNNING WATER DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,171 |
| CATFISH DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,051 |
| NORTH TULE DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 964 |
| Richburg Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 726 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 726 |
| Madera Diverision Channe | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 688 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 99 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,477 |
| SALINE CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,714 |
| GENTRY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,862 |
| WEST DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,862 |
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.