Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| SANDY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 400 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| TRIB SEVEN MILE CK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 700 |
| KNOB CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| CASEY FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 175 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| PUNCHEON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| SOUTHERN RR | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 275 |
| BRUSHY FORK SYSTEM | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 525 |
| LITTLE BONPAS | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 1,100 |
| SHIRLEY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| ALLISON DR DT #1 | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| THE SLOUGH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| BIRCH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| CRABAPPLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| CONRAIL RR | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 125 |
| SAND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 400 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| SOUTH FORK CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| WILLOW BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| FINLEY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 1,150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 125 |
| SAND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 850 |
| LOST FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 575 |
| SCHNEIDER SPRINGS BR | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 1,100 |
| TURKEY RUN | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 625 |
| PERKINS BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| NORTH FORK CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| HORSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| VERMILLION CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 600 |
| ZION HILL BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 300 |
| BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| COLES CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| FLAT CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| SKILLET CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| SKILLET FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| FLAT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 375 |
| DAVIDSON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| NORTH FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| DUMS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| VERMILION CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 1,150 |
| VERMILION CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 500 |
| VERMILION CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| ICG RR | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| BRUBAKER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
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.