Historic Bridges in New Hampshire
716 bridges built before 1951 in New Hampshire still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 716 bridges in New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHRR CONSTITUTION AV. | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,658 |
| SMITH RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 142 |
| ASHUELOT RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,456 |
| HAMPTON RIVER | New Hampshire | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 9,402 |
| SACO RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,004 |
| GREAT BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 957 |
| NHRR | New Hampshire | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 9,117 |
| ASHUELOT RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,274 |
| HALFWAY BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1949 | 77 | 256 |
| MID BR PISCATAQUOG RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,789 |
| EASTMAN BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 451 |
| MOOSE RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 96 |
| S BRANCH BAKER RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 144 |
| DECEPTION BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| TRIB. TO AMMONOOSUC | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 99 |
| UPPER AMMONOOSUC | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| MAD RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| PATTEN BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 289 |
| PATTEN BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| BEAR BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 303 |
| SUNCOOK RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| WEST BRANCH BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| POND BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 435 |
| INDIAN RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,436 |
| CATSBANE BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 481 |
| SACO RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,649 |
| KEARSARGE BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 510 |
| MILL BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 149 |
| BLOW-ME-DOWN-BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 112 |
| WILD MEADOW BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| WILD MEADOW BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| SMITH RIVER | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| BOG POND OUTLET | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| FRAZIER BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| FRAZIER BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| FRAZIER BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 73 |
| SALMON FALLS RIVER | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6,132 |
| SUNCOOK RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,540 |
| PEABODY RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,148 |
| ACCESS ROAD | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 86,429 |
| MCDOWELL RESERVOIR | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 247 |
| MCDOWELL RESERVOIR | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 488 |
| MINNEWAWA BROOK | New Hampshire | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 96 |
| BEMIS BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,004 |
| NASHUA RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 12,103 |
| CONTOOCOOK RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| CHERRY MILL BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 519 |
| BEAVER BROOK | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,580 |
| OTTER BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,586 |
| AMMONOOSUC RIVER | New Hampshire | Good | 1950 | 76 | 7,962 |
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.