Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUD DITCH # 19 | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,100 |
| FOREST PRAIRIE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 19 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 475 |
| ARTICHOKE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 465 |
| S FK ZUMBRO RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 312 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 739 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 840 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 840 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 68 |
| MORGAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,800 |
| MINNEOPA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 33 |
| MINNEOPA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 23 |
| COBB CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 66 |
| PINE ISLAND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 53 |
| PINE ISLAND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 88 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1935 | 91 | 22 |
| KETTLE RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 278 |
| KETTLE RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1935 | 91 | 51 |
| HASTY BROOK | Minnesota | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 1 |
| WEISEL CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 44 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3 |
| CANFIELD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 12 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 56 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 24 |
| ETNA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 44 |
| S BR ROOT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 51 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 32 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 60 |
| TURTLE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 18 |
| CO DITCH # 20 | Minnesota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 6 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,278 |
| EIGHTEEN MILE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,155 |
| MILLIKEN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,273 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,496 |
| CHAN BETWEEN TWO LAKES | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,851 |
| ZULEGER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,100 |
| OTTER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,626 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,575 |
| FLANDREAU CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,223 |
| HAZEL CREEK (CD #9) | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 307 |
| BNSF CEDAR LK; 23RD | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 116,215 |
| CP RAIL | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,400 |
| CP RAIL | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,851 |
| BNSF RR | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 18,784 |
| UP RR | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,464 |
| BNSF RR | Minnesota | Good | 1936 | 90 | 885 |
| S BR YELLOW MEDICINE R | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,450 |
| BNSF RR | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 21,700 |
| CLEARWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,260 |
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.