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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 225 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 225 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 18 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 64 |
| CHASKA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 100 |
| WOODBURY CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| KNIFE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,256 |
| HILL RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,150 |
| S FK ZUMBRO RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 26,500 |
| EAST BRANCH STURGEON R | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 556 |
| FOSTER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,614 |
| N BR UPPER IOWA R | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| OTTER TAIL RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,025 |
| MOUND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 34 |
| JACK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,050 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,050 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 6 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,172 |
| E FK BLUE EARTH RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 720 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,250 |
| BUCKMAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,220 |
| TOAD RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 28 |
| MILLER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 19,124 |
| WOLF CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 370 |
| DRY RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 396 |
| LE SUEUR RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| BULL RUN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 164 |
| DARK RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 365 |
| PAAVOLA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 365 |
| WOLF CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 75 |
| CO DITCH # 9 | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 456 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,357 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,357 |
| N BR UPPER IOWA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,357 |
| HAY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,004 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,226 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 9,000 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 270 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 75 |
| JD #11 | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 33 |
| JD #5 | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| SPUNK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 510 |
| S BR N FK WHITEWATER R | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 475 |
| S FK WHITEWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,300 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 730 |
| MID FK WHITEWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| JD #8 | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 35 |
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.