Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 570 |
| PARIS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 709 |
| OAKLAND BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 709 |
| BACON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 463 |
| CARSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 240 |
| KEEBLER BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 40 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 480 |
| LITTLE CHEROKEE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 610 |
| CHEROKEE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,068 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10,832 |
| KNOB CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 15,050 |
| REEDY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 12,442 |
| POSSUM CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 12,442 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,034 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,388 |
| GOOBER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 372 |
| NELSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 300 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,430 |
| SMITH BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 90 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 14,336 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 4,342 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10,523 |
| WILSON BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 8,087 |
| MC CANLESS BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 8,087 |
| MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 13,218 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 84 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 335 |
| SHOP SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 273 |
| FALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 720 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1930 | 96 | 7,160 |
| NORTH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,066 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 19,355 |
| HINDS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,820 |
| PITNER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 230 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,006 |
| S. FK. FORKED DEER RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,381 |
| DRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,381 |
| JACKS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,381 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,316 |
| COSBY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,520 |
| GREENBRIER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 7,043 |
| BROWN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1931 | 95 | 15,941 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 4,881 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,724 |
| HORSE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,724 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,724 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1931 | 95 | 8,749 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Tennessee | Good | 1931 | 95 | 5,289 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 60 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,366 |
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.