Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEER CREEK | Oklahoma | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 100 |
| BIRD CREEK | Oklahoma | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,000 |
| BIRD CREEK | Oklahoma | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 1,331 |
| Sandy River | Oregon | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 2,324 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Oregon | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 5,399 |
| WILLAMETTE RIVER | Oregon | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 30,871 |
| B-26 OVER UPRR | Oregon | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 13,624 |
| PLUM CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 9,112 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 22,269 |
| WASHINGTON BLVD (RT 8) | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 8,000 |
| NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 14,759 |
| IRONSTONE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,457 |
| MONOCACY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 276 |
| CLOVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 44 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 150 |
| WAPPASENING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 10 |
| SEPTA(DOYLESTOWN LINE) | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 14,724 |
| WATSON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 200 |
| HERKAKEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 500 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 100 |
| N BR SLIPPERY ROCK CR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 101 |
| S BR SLIPPERY ROCK CR | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 100 |
| DAVIS RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 500 |
| S FORK LIT SCRUBGRASS CR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| BRANDYWINE CREEK FLOOD | Pennsylvania | Good | 1912 | 114 | 7,797 |
| EAST BR.WHITE CLAY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,642 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 2,897 |
| OVER MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 1,000 |
| ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1912 | 114 | 5,781 |
| HOOVERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| BIG RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 997 |
| WAMPUM RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 97 |
| TAYLOR RUN TRIB | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 100 |
| TRIB. TO SAUCON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 10,024 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 727 |
| HUNGRY RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 2,329 |
| McMICHAEL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 189 |
| MARSHALL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 10 |
| YERGERS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,399 |
| BEAVER RUN | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 15 |
| LEHIGH RIVER | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 21,778 |
| BALLIARD CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| OSWAYO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| READING/NORTHERN RR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 1,711 |
| RAUSCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,370 |
| RAUSCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 1,370 |
| FALL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 75 |
| GLADDENS RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 150 |
| BULGER RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 739 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 5,119 |
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 |
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.