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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,500 |
| HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 213,000 |
| Larimer Co. Canal No. 2 | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,970 |
| Larimer Co. Canal No. 2 | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 818 |
| Lake Canal | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6,025 |
| NEWLIN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| Sullivan Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,211 |
| Crystal River | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,569 |
| Main Elk Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 653 |
| GUNNISON R. DIVER. CANAL | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 74 |
| EAST RIVER DIVER. CANAL | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 16 |
| BUFFALO CANYON CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 10,000 |
| COLUMBUS CANYON | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,400 |
| REDLANDS POWER CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,500 |
| COLORADO RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9,500 |
| GUNNISON RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,400 |
| COCHETOPA CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 470 |
| BESSEMER DITCH | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 5,500 |
| BLUE RIBBON ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,000 |
| TRIB. SAN FRANCISCO CRK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 22 |
| PURGATOIRE RIVER | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| TRINCHERA CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6 |
| TRIBUTARY SALADO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| DURAN ARROYO | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 56 |
| LEITENSDORFER ARROYO | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| MODEL DITCH | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 39 |
| STEELS FORK CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6 |
| EAST FORK ADOBE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| BEAR CREEK TRIBUTARY | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 282 |
| Pawnee Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 777 |
| Pawnee Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 41 |
| Sterling No 1 Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 505 |
| Larimer & Weld Canal | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,037 |
| North Poudre Canal | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5,642 |
| OTERO CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 220 |
| ADOBE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 567 |
| PRICE DITCH | Colorado | Good | 1950 | 76 | 650 |
| PLATEAU CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 81 |
| Beaver Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| Beaver Creek Lower Plat | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 37 |
| EAGLE RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 748 |
| Fortification Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 184 |
| Fortification Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 71 |
| Big Hole Gulch | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 167 |
| Cedar Mountain Gulch | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 773 |
| MONTE VISTA CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 420 |
| CATLIN CANAL | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 73 |
| ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA | Colorado | Poor | 1950 | 76 | — |
| AMITY CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9 |
| AMITY CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2 |
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.