Historic Bridges in West Virginia
1,245 bridges built before 1951 in West Virginia still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,245 bridges in West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GUANO CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 4,100 |
| ISNER CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 3,800 |
| TRACE FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,400 |
| S FORK CRANBERRY RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| MIDDLE FORK RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| LAUREL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| TETER CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| WOLF RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,000 |
| SPRUCE FK LITTLE COAL RV | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 524 |
| PICKLES FORK OF SALTLICK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| FALLS RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| LEFT FK. OF HEATH CK. | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5,000 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| CHARLEY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 750 |
| LAUREL CREEK | West Virginia | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,300 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,400 |
| OBRION CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| GLADE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 22 |
| SEWELL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,402 |
| SEWELL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,483 |
| TANNER FK RT FK STEER CK | West Virginia | Good | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| LITTLE KANAWHA RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| Steer Creek | West Virginia | Good | 1940 | 86 | 350 |
| TRINTON HOLLOW RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 150 |
| THREE CHURCHES RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| GRAYBILL HOLLOW RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| CULLERS RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 250 |
| NORTH RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 850 |
| WEST FORK RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 600 |
| TACKETT CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 4,400 |
| LEFTHAND CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| TACKETT CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,500 |
| TACKETT CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 28,200 |
| MILE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15,800 |
| THOROFARE RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,200 |
| BEAR HOLLOW CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 2,100 |
| SMITH CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| TENMILE FK OF CABIN CK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 600 |
| TENMILE FK OF CABIN CK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 600 |
| TEN MILE FK OF CABIN CR | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 650 |
| STONECOAL CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,500 |
| PRINGLE FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| GLADY CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| SAND FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| Elk Lick Run | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 400 |
| BEAR FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 2,100 |
| PORTER FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,100 |
| LAUREL FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,400 |
| FUQUAY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,100 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 350 |
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.