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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDINA RIVER | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 27,368 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,828 |
| BURKETT SLOUGH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,025 |
| KENNEDY DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,093 |
| HERRING CURVE SLOUGH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,093 |
| SALT CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 9,492 |
| KESSLER CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,275 |
| BALZEN SLOUGH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,275 |
| DINNER CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,275 |
| HUTCHINSON DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,275 |
| PICOSA CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,856 |
| ALUM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,191 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,191 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,947 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,191 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,962 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,169 |
| DRAW | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 475 |
| ARANSAS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 567 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 463 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 154 |
| OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 118 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 683 |
| AGUA DULCE CREEK | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| AGUA DULCE CREEK TRIB | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| LAGARTO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| SAN DIEGO CREEK BRANCH | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| SAN DIEGO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| TRANQUITAS CREEK | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| SAN ANDREAS CREEK | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| TRINIDAD CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| NARCISENO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| SANTA GERTRUDIS CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| GUAJILLO CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| LOS OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| LOS OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 130 |
| LOS OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| LOS OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 140 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,728 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,416 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,163 |
| JABONCILLOS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 664 |
| TRANQUITAS CREEK | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10,039 |
| BANQUETE CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,020 |
| AGUA DULCE CREEK | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,594 |
| DRAW | Texas | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,106 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
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.