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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH INLET | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 924 |
| MONTROSE AND DELTA CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 714 |
| Phillips Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 28 |
| Elkhead Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| Willow Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 487 |
| Soda Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,112 |
| N.POUDRE DITCH SAND CRK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 12,500 |
| KIOWA CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 532 |
| SAND CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 305 |
| FIRST CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 174 |
| FIRST CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 129 |
| WOLF CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 87 |
| RALSTON CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 576 |
| GRIZZLY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| FALLS GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| HILLS GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,100 |
| YOUNGS GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,100 |
| LARIMER COUNTY CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14,000 |
| WINDSOR RES CANAL DITCH | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 19,000 |
| FLOOD DRAINAGE | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 19,000 |
| FLOOD DRAINAGE | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14,000 |
| FLOOD DRAINAGE | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 14,000 |
| FLOOD DRAINAGE | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14,000 |
| TRIB. OF TWO BUTTES CRK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| PLUM CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 53 |
| TRIB. OF TWO BUTTES CRK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 9 |
| SOUTH FORK SAND ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 13 |
| TRIBUTARY OF PLUM CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14 |
| TRIBUTARY OF PLUM CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 13 |
| BEAR CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 4 |
| HORSE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1 |
| TRIB. OF TWO BUTTES CRK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 17 |
| TRIB. OF HORSE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14 |
| Boulder Feeder Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,692 |
| Boulder Feeder Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 422 |
| FT. LYON CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| FT. LYON CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 71 |
| FT. LYON CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 46 |
| ARAPAHOE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| LOUDEN CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 52 |
| BIG THOMPSON RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18,000 |
| HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,529 |
| NORTH CHEYENNE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,202 |
| SHOOKS RUN | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5,771 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,329 |
| UP RR | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40,000 |
| SPRING CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,658 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,500 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,500 |
| MAYHEM GULCH | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 7,500 |
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.