Historic Bridges in South Dakota
1,118 bridges built before 1951 in South Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,118 bridges in South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,650 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,600 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,600 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 100 |
| POTATO CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 1,314 |
| SOUTH FORK WHETSTONE RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 25 |
| BRAVE BULL CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 151 |
| BRAVE BULL CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 82 |
| MEDICINE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 251 |
| MEDICINE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 251 |
| CROW CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,344 |
| LAKE MITCHELL SPILLWAY | South Dakota | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,396 |
| TRIB S FORK BEAVER CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 60 |
| EAST BRULE CK | South Dakota | Good | 1944 | 82 | 50 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| TRIB. TO DRY CHOTEAU CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 60 |
| FOUR MILE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| BATTLE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| DRY CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 47 |
| DRY CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 32 |
| STATION ELM CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 48 |
| PEASE CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 48 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 48 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 48 |
| ASH CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| NORTH BR TWELVE MILE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| DRY RUN CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 64 |
| NORTH BR TWELVE MILE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 64 |
| COBB CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
| BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| EAGLE NEST CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| HARAM CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
| WHITE OWL CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 33 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 31 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 31 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 45 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| COTTONWOOD CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| TURKEY RIDGE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| TURKEY RIDGE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 60 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| ELCE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 30 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 97 |
| LONG CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 65 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 35 |
| FLINT ROCK CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 16 |
| RAPID CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
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.