Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 5 |
| NORTH CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 10 |
| BRANCH OF KNIFE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 200 |
| BIG MUDDY CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 20 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 10 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 10 |
| PEMBINA RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 5 |
| KNIFE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 5 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 25 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 2 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 20 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 5 |
| BNSF RAILROAD UNDERPASS | North Dakota | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 520 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 20 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 10 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 20 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 151 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 18 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| PEMBINA RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 15 |
| PEMBINA RIVER | North Dakota | Good | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 30 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 2 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 35 |
| DRAINAGE AREA | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| CHANTA PETA CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 70 |
| SE BR LITTLE HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 24 |
| N BRANCH CANTAPETA CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| BRADY CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 15 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 37 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| NORTH MAYVILLE DRAIN #8 | North Dakota | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10 |
| ENGLISH COULEE DRAIN | North Dakota | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 1 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| MAPLE CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
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.