Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUSH RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| BRANCH OF MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1945 | 81 | 80 |
| HAY COULEE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 32 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 30 |
| CROWN BUTTE CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1945 | 81 | 230 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 26 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| MOUSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,850 |
| GREEN RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 26 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 70 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 26 |
| TIMBER CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 25 |
| IRRIGATION CANAL | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| COTTONWOOD LAKE | North Dakota | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 10 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 27 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 10 |
| DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 24 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1946 | 80 | 500 |
| DES LACS RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1946 | 80 | 25 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 35 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 15 |
| DRAIN 14 | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,555 |
| FRESH WATER COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 35 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 25 |
| TURTLE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 48 |
| DRAINAGE AREA | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| HAILSTORM CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 5 |
| DES LACS RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 5 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,155 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,480 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,350 |
| MOTT COULEE | North Dakota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 1,520 |
| OAK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,370 |
| BONNES COULEE | North Dakota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 2,360 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,100 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 380 |
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.