Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 22 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 35 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 575 |
| SOUTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 24 |
| WHISKY CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 30 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 215 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 80 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 25 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 40 |
| CROWN BUTTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 405 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| NORTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5 |
| NORTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 26 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 24 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 27 |
| DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 841 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| SOUTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1948 | 78 | 250 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1948 | 78 | 190 |
| BR. SQUARE BUTTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 560 |
| BRANCH CHARBONNEAU CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1948 | 78 | 340 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,200 |
| HAY CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,800 |
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| DRY COULEE DRAW | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 25 |
| BOUNDARY CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 25 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 90 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 45 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 25 |
| BN RAILROAD | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 25 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 110 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 27 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 283 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 59 |
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.