Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWDER MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 910 |
| BOARDMAN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,020 |
| PINE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 9,548 |
| DRAIN #96 | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,800 |
| DRAIN #73 | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,800 |
| BUSH CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 88 |
| BEEBE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,927 |
| SMITH DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,230 |
| BELLANY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,147 |
| SESSIONS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,537 |
| LEWIS DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 6,140 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 5,183 |
| AUGUSTA CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,250 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 21,410 |
| THORNAPPLE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1930 | 96 | 11,887 |
| INDIAN MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 6,667 |
| MADISON DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 158 |
| HURON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 300 |
| RABBITS BACK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,020 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 350 |
| MUD CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 60 |
| SAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 60 |
| MICHIGAMME RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 126 |
| ESCANABA RIVER OVERFLOW | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| HUNTERS BROOK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 70 |
| NELSON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 40 |
| BLUFF CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 1,430 |
| WEEKS DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 51 |
| SWAMP RAISIN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 50 |
| LOCKWOOD DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 130 |
| TAMARACK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 570 |
| CROCKERY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,675 |
| INDIANWOOD LAKE CANAL | Michigan | Good | 1930 | 96 | 150 |
| GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RR | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 1,952 |
| RIVER ROUGE | Michigan | Good | 1930 | 96 | 7,976 |
| HOUGHTON CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1930 | 96 | 2,679 |
| BLACK RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 14,315 |
| LITTLE TROUT RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 30 |
| S BR CASS RIVER I/C DRN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 2,754 |
| SMALLDON DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 610 |
| BEALS & FRIZZLE DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 610 |
| MIDDLE BR DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 742 |
| S BR CASS RIVER I/C DRN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,023 |
| ELK CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 565 |
| POTTS DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 225 |
| S BR CASS RIVER I/C DRN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 150 |
| BRICE DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 150 |
| NORTHWOOD CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 1,409 |
| RUSHBED CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 144 |
| RATTLE RUN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 300 |
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.