Historic Bridges in Texas
8,191 bridges built before 1951 in Texas still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 8,191 bridges in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 16,332 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 9,266 |
| DRY BAYOU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,587 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,317 |
| MENBELL BYU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,400 |
| CARPENTERS BAYOU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,745 |
| CARPENTERS BAYOU TRIB | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,803 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,340 |
| PLUM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 9,620 |
| SIMS BAYOU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 820 |
| SIMS BYU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,570 |
| Colorado River Relief | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,579 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,374 |
| Flag Pond Slough | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10,512 |
| Irrigation Canal | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10,512 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10,512 |
| Draw | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,980 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,020 |
| TONQUA CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 246 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 246 |
| BEAR CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 417 |
| HOG BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 372 |
| PECK BRANCH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 372 |
| CUERO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 68 |
| LITTLE BRUSHY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 172 |
| GOHLKE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,094 |
| SPRING BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,014 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,014 |
| Trib of Mulberry Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,868 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,868 |
| Draw | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,868 |
| Trib of Mulberry Creek | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,463 |
| BLACK BAYOU | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,162 |
| SPRING CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,137 |
| DRY FORK CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,233 |
| LONG HOLLOW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 261 |
| SANDY FORK | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 44 |
| TINSLEY CRK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,998 |
| TINSLEY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,290 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| BOGGY CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| DRAW | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 490 |
| MARCADO CRK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 753 |
| W BERNARD CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 18,426 |
| SHARP CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 40,877 |
| COPPERAS CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 143 |
| LIVE OAK CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,143 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,732 |
| SNAKE CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 12,768 |
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.