Historic Bridges
94,381 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,381 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELLICOTT CREEK | New York | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 29,825 |
| GRASSE RIVER | New York | Good | 1882 | 144 | 3,405 |
| ONESQUETHAW CREEK | New York | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 123 |
| LITTLE BEAVER CREEK | Ohio | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 305 |
| LAMEREAUX/W BR HRN RVR | Ohio | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 209 |
| MIAMI RIVER | Ohio | Poor | 1882 | 144 | 816 |
| NORFOLK/SOUTHERN RR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1882 | 144 | 13,104 |
| COOKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 250 |
| WHEELING CREEK TRIB | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 30 |
| SAUGATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 3,449 |
| P&W RR | Rhode Island | Poor | 1882 | 144 | 1,111 |
| NS RAILWAY | Virginia | Good | 1882 | 144 | 2,769 |
| LINEA CREEK | Puerto Rico | Poor | 1882 | 144 | 35,600 |
| ST JOSEPH RIVER | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 200 |
| REBECCA KNIGHT DRAIN | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 175 |
| PLUMMER CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 106 |
| EEL RIVER | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 100 |
| LEATHERWOOD Creek | Indiana | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 103 |
| FLAT CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 82 |
| DEER CREEK | Maryland | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 70 |
| RR AMTRAK/MBTA | Massachusetts | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 24,000 |
| WATER SUDBURY RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 1,550 |
| WATER MERRIMACK RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 8,534 |
| WATER MERRIMACK RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 26,000 |
| MILL BROOK | New Hampshire | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 92 |
| COCHECO RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 14,115 |
| WAWAYANDA CREEK | New York | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 8,153 |
| QUASSAICK CREEK | New York | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 4,507 |
| I278 FDR Drive FDR Dri | New York | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 110,939 |
| SUGAR CREEK MARK RD | Ohio | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 351 |
| CAESARS CREEK | Ohio | Good | 1883 | 143 | 12 |
| PLUM CREEK | Ohio | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 7,627 |
| FLAT RUN | Ohio | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 100 |
| MONONGAHELA RIVER CSX RR | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 7,417 |
| MONTOUR RUN | Pennsylvania | Good | 1883 | 143 | 5,321 |
| DUNNING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 100 |
| MAIDEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 868 |
| E. BR. PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 250 |
| Abandoned Canal | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 4,000 |
| CLEARFIELD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1883 | 143 | — |
| LICKING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 100 |
| LITTLE CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 465 |
| PENNYPACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1883 | 143 | 3,280 |
| SEPTA (Chestnut Hill W.) | Pennsylvania | Good | 1883 | 143 | 6,500 |
| SEPTA | Pennsylvania | Good | 1883 | 143 | 6,880 |
| SEPTA (Chestnut Hill E.) | Pennsylvania | Good | 1883 | 143 | 1,100 |
| WEST HILL BROOK | Vermont | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 30 |
| SO. BR. TROUT RIVER | Vermont | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 40 |
| TROUT RIVER | Vermont | Good | 1883 | 143 | 50 |
| FIRST BRANCH WHITE R. | Vermont | Fair | 1883 | 143 | 40 |
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 |
| Virgin Islands | 5 | 1904 | 112 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.