Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR 23 CSX & CNIC RR | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 33,396 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 2,948 |
| SNOW CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,919 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 800 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 800 |
| BOOHER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 800 |
| WOODS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,036 |
| THOMAS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,142 |
| ROCKY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 8,094 |
| MARTIN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,743 |
| WATTS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 339 |
| ROCKY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 4,155 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 4,155 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 4,155 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,875 |
| CROOCKED CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 15,080 |
| WEST HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 20,189 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1928 | 98 | 14,336 |
| DRY FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 136 |
| SMITH FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 320 |
| BARTON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 6,373 |
| NO BUSINESS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 763 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 763 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1929 | 97 | 4,799 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 665 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 892 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 7,310 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,310 |
| DOE RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 22,653 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 6,334 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,665 |
| FOWLER GROVE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 455 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 21,011 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 19,151 |
| RENFROE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 2,039 |
| OBED RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 7,324 |
| SHAW BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 610 |
| L&N RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 27,908 |
| BROWN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 19,487 |
| SOUTH HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 12,484 |
| TRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 19,517 |
| HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 19,517 |
| JONES CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,264 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,264 |
| SULPHUR FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,264 |
| TOWN BRANCH & NFA A178 | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,264 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,475 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,475 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,571 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,571 |
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.