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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| FORDICE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| LITTLE DRY FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 350 |
| CAMEL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| ELM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| MARTIN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| WALTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| OWENS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 100 |
| POND CREEK DR DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 125 |
| TRIB ELM RIV DRN DT | Illinois | Good | 1909 | 117 | 75 |
| BAILEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| DEER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 400 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 20 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 35 |
| SEVEN MILE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 20 |
| W. BUREAU CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| FAIRFIELD DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| PIKE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| SPOON RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| S BRANCH BROUILLETTS | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| WAUPECON CR | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| W. FORK MAZON RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 125 |
| MAZON RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| BREWSTER RUN | Illinois | Good | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| TRIB E FK MAZON RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| BR. OF COAL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| TRIB SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| JEFFERSON CR | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| MUDDY PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 125 |
| DAVIS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| FOX RIVER E CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 11,200 |
| DEER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 175 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| BR W AUX SABLE CR | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 225 |
| KILJORDAN CR | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| MISS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 14,300 |
| MASON TAZEWELL DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| BLACK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 175 |
| BR OF E PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| MIDDLE FORK VERM RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| KEITH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 475 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1911 | 115 | 9,400 |
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.