Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIB W BR LAC QUI PAR R | Minnesota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,420 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 590 |
| STONY RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,527 |
| WELCOME CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 540 |
| JUD DITCH # 15 | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,605 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 17,300 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,651 |
| EIGHT MILE CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 700 |
| W BR RAVEN STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 55 |
| MAPLE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| W FK LAC QUI PARLE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,750 |
| BIG CANNON RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 25 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,750 |
| OAK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,015 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 6,014 |
| WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 156 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 376 |
| N FK WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 20 |
| CHANNEL | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 420 |
| JEWETT CREEK (CD # 19) | Minnesota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 150 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 830 |
| REDWOOD RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,700 |
| RED LAKE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 9,400 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,597 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,597 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,137 |
| PERCH CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 135 |
| N FK WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 100 |
| STEER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 793 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 712 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1934 | 92 | 165 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,260 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,865 |
| WOOD LAKE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 466 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,750 |
| S FK ZUMBRO R (DAM) | Minnesota | Good | 1934 | 92 | 499 |
| PELICAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 880 |
| SPRING CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 43 |
| NETT LAKE RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1935 | 91 | 10 |
| GRAND PORTAGE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 296 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 39 |
| CLEARWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 59 |
| ST AUGUSTA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,533 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 970 |
| SAUK RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 9,357 |
| PARTRIDGE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 939 |
| FOREST PRAIRIE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 625 |
| LESTER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 11,700 |
| E BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,385 |
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.