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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR OF MARROWBONE C | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| SPENCER CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| TURKEY CREEK BR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 75 |
| SANDY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 750 |
| ELK FK SALT RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| BEE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| HURRICANE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| SANDY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 100 |
| BNSF RR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 1,000 |
| BR OF LIT BLUE RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 220 |
| TIGER BR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| TRIB OF SHOAL CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 100 |
| E LICK CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| E FK OF LIT BLUE | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 3,000 |
| SUGAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| MILL CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| SNAG CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| FISH CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| FISH CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| FISH CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| MARBLE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| BRANCH | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| OWL CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| OYSTER CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| KELLY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,100 |
| KELLY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 1,800 |
| KELLY CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| BIG MUDDY CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| FLAT CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| BR GRINDSTONE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| SPRING RVR BR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| CREEK | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| BEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| MORGAN BR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| PIERRE FLECHE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| BEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| BLACK CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| BLACK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| FLAT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| PALMER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| CENTER CR | Missouri | Good | 1910 | 116 | 2,000 |
| MID FK OF SALT RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| CYPRESS CR | Missouri | Good | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| UNKNOWN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| FISHING RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| BIG MUDDY CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| BR OF S BLACKBIRD | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 40 |
| WYELLOW CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| PILOT GROVE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
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.