Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,131 |
| HOOSIER BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,625 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Good | 1929 | 97 | 6,871 |
| HARRIS CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 2,784 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,228 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,228 |
| COON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,194 |
| CLOUD BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 6,975 |
| COVE BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 5,946 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 14,728 |
| SCOTTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 17,719 |
| JOHNS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 42,038 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 18,011 |
| IC RR & NONCONNAH CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 48,162 |
| INDUSTRIAL AVE & CNIC RR | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 25,215 |
| STANDING ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 20,245 |
| E. FORK BEAVER CK CANAL | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,727 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1929 | 97 | 1,727 |
| GREEN RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 7,963 |
| LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,166 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,857 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1929 | 97 | 4,298 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,067 |
| HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 16,173 |
| SPENCER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 13,353 |
| LITTLE CANEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1929 | 97 | 136 |
| BEECH GROVE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 177 |
| WARTRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,615 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,615 |
| LITTLE ELLEJOY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 137 |
| NINE MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 40 |
| PISTOL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,730 |
| GALLAGHER CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 1,214 |
| LITTLE BAKER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 18,165 |
| PARSONS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,428 |
| BRANCH OF STINK. CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| STINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 680 |
| JAKES BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 50 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 981 |
| LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 981 |
| SAUNDERS FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| RUSH CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,087 |
| BRANCH (HRSP) | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 70 |
| BIG BLUFF CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,655 |
| LONG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,188 |
| PIGPEN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,188 |
| WOLF CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,282 |
| NORTH FORK BLUE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,532 |
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.