Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MID FORK BEARGRASS CREEK | Kentucky | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,269 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Kentucky | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 2,125 |
| MARSHYHOPE CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5,080 |
| NORTHWEST BRANCH | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 21,112 |
| BROWNS BRANCH | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 11,114 |
| GRANNY FINLEY BRANCH | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 6,761 |
| BUSH CABIN RUN | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 275 |
| TOWSON RUN | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 2,373 |
| NORTH BRANCH JONES FALLS | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 3,208 |
| CSX | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,219 |
| SPRING GARDENS | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 56,772 |
| PINEY CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 236 |
| MASON BRANCH | Maryland | Good | 1910 | 116 | 1,329 |
| MONOCACY RIVER | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 207 |
| FRIENDS CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 123 |
| DRY SENECA CREEK | Maryland | Good | 1910 | 116 | 150 |
| ROCK CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 3,813 |
| REDDY BRANCH | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 743 |
| LITTLE ANTIETAM CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 315 |
| LITTLE ANTIETAM CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 233 |
| CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL | Maryland | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 16,435 |
| WATER CHARLES RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 27,554 |
| WATER SALISBURY PLAIN R | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 21,500 |
| WATER E BR NEPONSET RIV | Massachusetts | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 905 |
| WATER W BR WESTFIELD RIV | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 388 |
| PRIEST BROOK | Massachusetts | Good | 1910 | 116 | 2 |
| WATER SHINGLE ISL RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,214 |
| WATER MILLERS RIVER | Massachusetts | Good | 1910 | 116 | 33 |
| WATER N NASHUA RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 8,858 |
| WATER GREEN RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5,200 |
| WATER ASSABET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 3,900 |
| WATER SAWMILL RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 650 |
| RR BMRR | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 2,285 |
| WATER RIVER MEADOW BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 10,969 |
| WATER WESTERN CANAL | Massachusetts | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 3,500 |
| WATER WADING RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 4,714 |
| RR CSX | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,300 |
| WATER POCKSHA POND | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 714 |
| WATER QUABOAG RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 13,981 |
| WATER NASHUA RIVER TRIB | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 13,807 |
| RR MBTA/BMRR | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 14,800 |
| RR BMRR SPUR | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5,825 |
| WATER QUINEBAUG RIVER | Massachusetts | Good | 1910 | 116 | 13,925 |
| WATER STILLWATER RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 300 |
| RR CSX | Massachusetts | Good | 1910 | 116 | 387 |
| WATER BEAVER BROOK | Massachusetts | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 32,720 |
| AU TRAIN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | — |
| WHITEFISH RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| WHITEFISH RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| WHITEFISH RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
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.