Historic Bridges in Nebraska
3,270 bridges built before 1951 in Nebraska still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,270 bridges in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 80 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| YANKTON SLOUGH | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 90 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 145 |
| DUCK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| WAHOO CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| SAND CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| SILVER CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 105 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| LOGAN CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| SOUTH OMAHA CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| PLUM CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| COON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 250 |
| CEDAR CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 10 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1911 | 115 | 25 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 25 |
| DAILY BRANCH | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 10 |
| HOOKER CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 10 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 5 |
| LITTLE BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 40 |
| N FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 15 |
| WILSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 25 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1911 | 115 | 20 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1911 | 115 | 55 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 115 |
| PLUM CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 40 |
| WOOD RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 35 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 250 |
| PRAIRIE DOG CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1913 | 113 | 10 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 45 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 10 |
| SCHOOL CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| LITTLE BAZILE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 5 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 30 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 35 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 30 |
| REPUBLICAN RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 835 |
| NORTH SHELL CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 25 |
| EAST MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 20 |
| EAST MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| ELDER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| SICILY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 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.