Historic Bridges in New Hampshire
716 bridges built before 1951 in New Hampshire still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 716 bridges in New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MINNEWAWA BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,191 |
| STONY BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,978 |
| CONTOOCOOK RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,746 |
| MOUNTAIN BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,225 |
| CONTOOCOOK RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 68 |
| S BRANCH BAKER RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1939 | 87 | 96 |
| S BRANCH ISRAEL RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 96 |
| S BRANCH ISRAEL RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 96 |
| SHAKER BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 609 |
| TOWN LINE BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,802 |
| RICKERS BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,961 |
| BAILEY BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,215 |
| CHOCORUA RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1939 | 87 | 7,502 |
| MEADOW BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 96 |
| PISCATAQUOG RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,831 |
| PEMIGEWASSET RIVER | New Hampshire | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 674 |
| MERRYMEETING RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,614 |
| BEAVER BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,868 |
| WEST BRANCH BELA BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,414 |
| SMITH RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,181 |
| CHURCHILL BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| NISSITISSIT RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 524 |
| RYAN BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| CONWAY LAKE OUTLET | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,629 |
| PEQUAWKET POND | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 19,487 |
| MILL BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 641 |
| SMITH RIVER | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 2,913 |
| BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| RAND BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,205 |
| GUNSTOCK RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 322 |
| COLD BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| GUNNISON BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,012 |
| GUNNISON BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,012 |
| MINK BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,167 |
| CLARK BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,734 |
| NEEDLE SHOP BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,664 |
| ASHUELOT RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,937 |
| WHITE BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 826 |
| NHRR | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 510 |
| GREAT BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| GRANT BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,132 |
| CANAL OUTLET | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| RED HILL RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 9,873 |
| S BR PISCATAQUOG RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 440 |
| BLAKE BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| ARCHERTOWN BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| LOVELL RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 96 |
| DAN HOLE RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1940 | 86 | 22 |
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.