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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PALOUSE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 53 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,362 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 209 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 272 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 154 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 318 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 149 |
| E MARGINAL WY 1ST 4TH | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 42,350 |
| RIBARY CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,500 |
| S FORK SNOQUALMIE RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,500 |
| GARDINERS CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,500 |
| STETATTLE CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 300 |
| China Creek | Washington | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,504 |
| China Creek | Washington | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,504 |
| SOUTH CREEK TRIBUTARY | Washington | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 250 |
| DRY CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 186 |
| CRAB CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 51 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,394 |
| BNSF RAILROAD | Washington | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,000 |
| DESCHUTES RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 5,190 |
| WASTEWATER CANAL NO 5 | Washington | Good | 1943 | 83 | 3,426 |
| WASTEWATER CANAL NO 5 | Washington | Good | 1943 | 83 | 3,426 |
| SUMAS RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,272 |
| PYSHT RIVER | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 829 |
| ABANDONED RAILROAD | Washington | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 2,625 |
| CHILIWIST CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 1,415 |
| TOWN DITCH | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 336 |
| PALOUSE RIVER OVERRUN | Washington | Good | 1944 | 82 | 96 |
| GEIGER BOULEVARD | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 2,964 |
| JOHNSON CR | Washington | Good | 1944 | 82 | 10 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 113 |
| CHINA CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 4,336 |
| DRAIN DITCH | Washington | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 2,350 |
| CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| HARRIS CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 9,800 |
| JIM CREEK | Washington | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 1,969 |
| STAFFORD CR | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 6,124 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 6,124 |
| CAMPBELL CREEK | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 6,124 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| GRIFFIN CR | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,813 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 10,445 |
| SLOUGH | Washington | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 10,190 |
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.