Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Creek | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 657 |
| JUD DITCH # 11 | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,037 |
| ROCK RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,823 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 657 |
| DEER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| CREEK FROM SCHOOL LAKE | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 590 |
| SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 42 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 64 |
| CD #71 | Minnesota | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 390 |
| SIMPSON CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 285 |
| SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,974 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,447 |
| Bassett Creek | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 14,248 |
| HEATH CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,700 |
| BURNHAM CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,100 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,015 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 25 |
| DRY WEATHER CREEK(CD #22 | Minnesota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 664 |
| COON CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,260 |
| LAKE MARIO | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 9,222 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 20 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 20 |
| NINE MILE CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 110 |
| N BR SUNRISE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 8,536 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,721 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,618 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,632 |
| WHALAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 65 |
| JD #25 | Minnesota | Good | 1947 | 79 | 15 |
| NET RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 12 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 24 |
| S BR SUNRISE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,230 |
| KETTLE RIVER; ST | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,320 |
| BURNHAM CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,287 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1948 | 78 | 3,710 |
| WHITE WATER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,379 |
| LE SUEUR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,500 |
| S BR WILD RICE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,336 |
| STURGEON RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 680 |
| ELM CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,076 |
| LITTLE FORK RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 556 |
| STURGEON RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 556 |
| PLATTE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,389 |
| MINNESOTA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 460 |
| BUFFALO RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,082 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1948 | 78 | 796 |
| LESTER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 730 |
| S FK ROOT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,386 |
| MARSH RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,650 |
| WEST FORK CEDAR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,550 |
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.