Historic Bridges in Colorado
857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POPE ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| TIMPAS CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 220 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Good | 1948 | 78 | 3,000 |
| Little Red Wash | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | — |
| FARMERS UNION CANAL | Colorado | Good | 1948 | 78 | 1,700 |
| RIO BLANCO | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,300 |
| POWELL ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,000 |
| RIO GRANDE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 165 |
| FARMERS UNION CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 84 |
| CEMENT CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 28 |
| TAYLOR RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 482 |
| FLORIDA RIVER | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 84 |
| NORTH FORK WHITE RIVER | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 108 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 580 |
| GRIZZLY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,300 |
| LARIMER-WELD CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 24,000 |
| SANDY CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 220 |
| FRENCHMAN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,900 |
| COLORADO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,300 |
| CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,450 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 205 |
| TEMPLETON GAP FLOODWAY | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 18,345 |
| CS and E RR VAN BUREN C | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 8,919 |
| CSE RR VAN BUREN C | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 7,863 |
| SPRING CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 670 |
| FLETCHERS GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 670 |
| HAMMOND DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 670 |
| RR SPUR | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 242,000 |
| FOX STREET | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 242,000 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 7,500 |
| COLORADO RIVER | Colorado | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,900 |
| JAY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,500 |
| ROOTCAP CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,400 |
| FIVE POINT GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,500 |
| TEXAS CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 420 |
| LAKE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 420 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 19,000 |
| SIX MILE CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 7,000 |
| EIGHT MILE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 7,000 |
| BRUSH HOLLOW CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 7,000 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 11,000 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 19,000 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 9,800 |
| AMITY CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,019 |
| ARKANSAS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 510 |
| GRAND VALLEY CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 19 |
| CASCADE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,900 |
| SALT CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1949 | 77 | 170 |
| Granby Dam Spillway | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| WILLIAMS FORK | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
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.