Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 720 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 155 |
| ST JAMES CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| CO DITCH # 1 | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 88 |
| MID FK CROW RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 205 |
| MAYHEW CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 660 |
| CO DITCH # 57 | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| TRIB GERNANDER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 220 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 517 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 49 |
| CHASKA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,431 |
| CAMP CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 14 |
| PRAIRIE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 35 |
| CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 54 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| PLUM CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 65 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 33 |
| BUNKER HILL CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 60 |
| OTV RAILROAD | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,700 |
| SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,974 |
| BNSF RR | Minnesota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 7,229 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | Minnesota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 205 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,839 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,567 |
| CREDIT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 54,000 |
| CRYSTAL CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,564 |
| S BR BUFFALO RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,182 |
| S BR BUFFALO R | Minnesota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 8,105 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 330 |
| STRAIGHT RIVER (JD # 2) | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,741 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,039 |
| MUSTINKA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,075 |
| SAND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 480 |
| STONE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 45 |
| STONE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30 |
| STONE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 10 |
| STONE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3 |
| WATSON CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 105 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 135 |
| WOODBURY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 260 |
| N FK WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1939 | 87 | 522 |
| WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 156 |
| CANBY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 16 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 154 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Good | 1939 | 87 | 370 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 42 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 42 |
| EAST BURNS CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,250 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 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.