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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KASKASKIA RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| SCHWARTZ BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 275 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 125 |
| WEBSTER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| PAINTROCK CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 1,000 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | — |
| SCHWARTZ BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| ICG RR | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| WHITLEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| LONG BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 20 |
| JACK OAK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| BIG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 300 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| PAUL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| BONPAS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| Paul Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| EAST FORK WETWEATHER | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| E FK BONPAS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 350 |
| OPPOSSUM CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| ANGLE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| ROCKY BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| BR LITTLE WABASH R | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 125 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 350 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 275 |
| SORGHUM BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| SWAFFORD CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| W BR LITTLE WABASH R | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 450 |
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.