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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTTER CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| PILOT GROVE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| TRIB N FK SPRING R | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| QUEENS BR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| PILOT GROVE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| POLECAT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 40 |
| BRUSHY CREEK | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| SUGAR CR | Missouri | Good | 1910 | 116 | 120 |
| CEDAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| FLAT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| TRIB OF GRAND RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| GILLUM CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| MID FK CHARITON RV | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| PUZZLE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| WAKENDA CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| CROOKED CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| MILE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 110 |
| CROOKED CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| BATTS CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| FLAT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 35 |
| MISSISSIPPI RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 10,000 |
| PHILLIPS CR | Missouri | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 3,854 |
| IVES CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| E FK MAPLE CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 45 |
| ELK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| BLOODY RUN | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| DEER CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| S FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| N FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| WILSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| ROCK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| DRY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 80 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| YANKTON SLOUGH | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 90 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 145 |
| DUCK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| WAHOO CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| SAND CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| SILVER CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 105 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
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.