Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PORTAGE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 6,441 |
| E&LS RR | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 6,759 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,570 |
| MISTEQUAY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,958 |
| SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 827 |
| MUD CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 368 |
| N BR KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,322 |
| THORNAPPLE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1932 | 94 | 965 |
| EAST BRANCH EAGLE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,399 |
| S BR RAISIN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 11,522 |
| PINE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,202 |
| SAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 10 |
| CARP RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,099 |
| BIG CEDAR RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 6,417 |
| WHITMORE DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 606 |
| STURGEON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 126 |
| TITTABAWASEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 7,544 |
| TAMARACK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 5,181 |
| BEAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 9,080 |
| RIO GRANDE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| RIO GRANDE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| GRAND TRUNK WESTERN RR | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 13,938 |
| OGEMAW CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 13,157 |
| MERRYWEATHER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,120 |
| SILVER CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,750 |
| N BRANCH WHITE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,484 |
| BULLDOG CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 785 |
| SWAN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 14,431 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 137 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 126 |
| SMITHS CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 180 |
| (NO NAME) DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 5,571 |
| FRANK & POET DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 6,206 |
| TRENTON CHANNEL | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 22,180 |
| SCHAEFER ROAD | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 18,726 |
| MIDDLE ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 2,989 |
| MIDDLE ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 7,192 |
| MIDDLE ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 7,192 |
| MIDDLE ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 7,365 |
| MIDDLE ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 10,904 |
| ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 29,650 |
| N BR DEVIL RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 5,537 |
| WELLS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,050 |
| BAYOU & BLK WATER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 5,182 |
| WANADOGA CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,200 |
| S BR KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 5,057 |
| MUNUSCONG RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 666 |
| CHUB CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 216 |
| CARP LAKE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,661 |
| N BRANCH KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 250 |
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.