Historic Bridges in West Virginia
1,245 bridges built before 1951 in West Virginia still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,245 bridges in West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAXWELL RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,300 |
| ISLAND CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,000 |
| MILL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 4,000 |
| MILL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 4,000 |
| WARM SPRING RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 1,000 |
| WARM SPRING RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 150 |
| LAUREL RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,400 |
| LT FORK LITTLE SANDY CR | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,200 |
| TRACE FORK OF MUD RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 350 |
| WINDING GULF | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 800 |
| FRENCH CREEK | West Virginia | Good | 1927 | 99 | 300 |
| BRUSHY FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 16,800 |
| JERRY RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 450 |
| PRICE GLADE RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 600 |
| Long Drain | West Virginia | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LEFT FORK STILLWELL CK | West Virginia | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 90 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 10,000 |
| WHITES BRANCH OF POND F | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,000 |
| TURTLE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 20 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 5,500 |
| FLOYD CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 752 |
| NEW RIVER and CSX RR | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 332 |
| CR 13/2 Kanawha R. CSX R | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | — |
| TROUT RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 4,600 |
| ELK CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 5,500 |
| THOMAS FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,800 |
| BROWNS CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,100 |
| WEST FORK RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,100 |
| BUCKHANNON RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 400 |
| DENNISON RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,300 |
| BRANCH OF LEADING CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,500 |
| DRY FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 500 |
| ELKHORN CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 250 |
| Whetstone Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 50 |
| Harts Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 50 |
| PAYNES BRANCH | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 40 |
| Roneys Point Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 150 |
| Battle Run | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 700 |
| BRIERY GAP RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,400 |
| OHIO RIVER BACK CHANNEL | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 550 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 150 |
| VANDAL FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 450 |
| TUG CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,413 |
| Walnut Run | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 90 |
| WHITES CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 30 |
| LEFT FORK HOLLY RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 200 |
| Cappo Run | West Virginia | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,200 |
| LITTLE TYGART CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 3,900 |
| FALLING ROCK CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 1,300 |
| SHORT CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,300 |
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.