Historic Bridges in Washington
1,188 bridges built before 1951 in Washington still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,188 bridges in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WALLACE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 13,831 |
| WENATCHEE RIVER | Washington | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,805 |
| MERCER SLOUGH | Washington | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 74,410 |
| COPPER CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| COOKE CREEK | Washington | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,018 |
| CRAB CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 114 |
| BIG TREE CREEK | Washington | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,255 |
| BNSF RR | Washington | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 6,344 |
| GIBBONS CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,097 |
| CORBETT DRAW | Washington | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 35 |
| PALOUSE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 146 |
| CRAB CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| BAUER COULEE | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 37 |
| SHILSHOLE AVE NW | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 52,000 |
| SHIP CANAL RR | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 52,000 |
| ISSAQUAH CK. | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 23,500 |
| DAVIS CREEK | Washington | Good | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| CORBETT CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| LAKE SACAJAWEA | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,133 |
| Puget Sound & Pacific RR | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,878 |
| ALKALI FLAT CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 174 |
| Stearns Creek | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 163 |
| Stearns Creek | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 238 |
| STEARNS CREEK | Washington | Good | 1940 | 86 | 238 |
| SKAGIT RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | — |
| STEVENS CREEK | Washington | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,400 |
| CLOVER CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| CLOVER CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| COLUMBIA R KETTLE FALLS | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,342 |
| SOL DUC RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,278 |
| SOL DUC RIVER | Washington | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 3,278 |
| GN RY | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,986 |
| GN RY | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 11,076 |
| SPOKANE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 887 |
| AHTANUM CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 8,981 |
| NP RY & RAMP | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 8,981 |
| WIDE HOLLOW CREEK | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 14,370 |
| GRANDE RONDE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 290 |
| RR | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,051 |
| DEEP CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 7,571 |
| TUNNEL CREEK | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,795 |
| THORN CREEK | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,027 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,027 |
| KIMBALL CREEK | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 5,809 |
| USIS MAIN CANAL | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 170 |
| LAY INLET / NELYAL CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 900 |
| SALMON CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,946 |
| ENTIAT RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,583 |
| CLARKS CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,200 |
| SNIPES CANAL | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,060 |
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.