Historic Bridges in Iowa
3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 20 |
| ROCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| FIDDLE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 20 |
| FIDDLE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 20 |
| LITTLE SIOUX RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 62 |
| SCHNEIDERS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 41 |
| SNY MAGILL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 35 |
| BR NORTH RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 40 |
| LONG CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 15 |
| COULEE | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 44 |
| BRANCH WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 44 |
| LOCAL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 51 |
| RED ROCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 104 |
| BURR OAK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 51 |
| TROY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 5 |
| PICAYUNE CR | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| N BR OLD MANS CR | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 35 |
| BRADLEY CR | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 31 |
| BR OLD MANS CR | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 21 |
| N BR NORTH RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| SNIPE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 51 |
| MINERVA CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 15 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 29 |
| WATERMAN CR | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | — |
| DD | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 41 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 5 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 26 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| EAST INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 26 |
| KEIGLEY BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| BROADHORN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 46 |
| KNACK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 46 |
| TROUT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 33 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 29 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 80 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Good | 1915 | 111 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 1,110 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 40 |
| BR IOWAY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 15 |
| WEST FORK LITTLE SIOUX | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 11 |
| BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 45 |
| MINERS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 39 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 11 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 16 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 16 |
| WELDON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 26 |
| BRUCE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 88 |
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.