Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,278 |
| N BR SUNRISE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,237 |
| WINNEBAGO CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,447 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 35 |
| LITTLE SIOUX RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 35 |
| MISSION CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,000 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,137 |
| THOMPSON CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,137 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,496 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,496 |
| S BR TWO RIVERS (DAM) | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 140 |
| WATER HEN CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 125 |
| PERCH CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 40 |
| LITTLE PINE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 10 |
| HAY CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 40 |
| CHIPPEWA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 520 |
| WATSON SAG CHANNEL | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 308 |
| MINN. RIV. | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 330 |
| DRY RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| ZULEGER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,100 |
| CREDIT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 703 |
| OTV RAILROAD | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,700 |
| BNSF RAIL | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 9,500 |
| WILLOW RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,118 |
| SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 60 |
| COTTONWOOD RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,300 |
| MISSISSIPPI RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,428 |
| BALL CLUB RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 3,039 |
| BIG FORK RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 380 |
| ROSEAU RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,400 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 802 |
| GRAND PORTAGE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 300 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,434 |
| PLATTE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,483 |
| SILVER SPRING CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 3,100 |
| JUD DITCH # 11 | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 55 |
| SUCKER RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 145 |
| PETREL CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 375 |
| EAST TWO RIVERS | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| SIMIAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 415 |
| HELLWIG CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 276 |
| PRAIRIE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| LE SUEUR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 160 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 739 |
| DRY RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 900 |
| DRY RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 205 |
| S BR N FK WHITEWATER R | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 205 |
| REDWOOD RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 750 |
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.