Historic Bridges in Colorado
857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PREWITT OUTLET CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,000 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 11,000 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 38,000 |
| UP RR | Colorado | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,600 |
| COCHETOPA CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 470 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 470 |
| CATLIN CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 650 |
| OTERO CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 650 |
| HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 460 |
| ROCKY FORD CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 596 |
| Green Mtn Dam Spillway | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 1,100 |
| DRAINAGE | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,100 |
| DRAINAGE | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 1,100 |
| UP RR | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 3,500 |
| FRASER RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 11,000 |
| MCINTYRE GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 101,000 |
| FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,803 |
| OHIO CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 45 |
| SAN MIGUEL RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,800 |
| SIX MILE CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 2,000 |
| E. Fork of Turkey Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 50 |
| Drainage Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,600 |
| B Ditch | Colorado | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 30 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 2,300 |
| Dolores River | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| LOS PINOS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,112 |
| BOULDER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 43 |
| BEAR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 27 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 9 |
| SOUTH ARKANSAS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 277 |
| OAK CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 242 |
| COLORADO RIVER | Colorado | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 1,200 |
| Colorado N. Channel | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,200 |
| West Divide Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 27 |
| WILLIS CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1945 | 81 | 280 |
| GURULE ARROYO | Colorado | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 14 |
| FEEDER DITCH | Colorado | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 47 |
| BEAR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 102 |
| ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA | Colorado | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 64 |
| WASH | Colorado | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 550 |
| FINDLEY GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 550 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Good | 1946 | 80 | 550 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 4,100 |
| DRY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 305 |
| NORTH STERLING CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,500 |
| GREELEY-LOVELAND DITCH | Colorado | Good | 1947 | 79 | 38,000 |
| GREELEY CANAL NO 3 | Colorado | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 4,350 |
| CONEJOS RIVER | Colorado | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 136 |
| CONEJOS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 68 |
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.