Historic Bridges in Pennsylvania
6,062 bridges built before 1951 in Pennsylvania still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 6,062 bridges in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1837 | 189 | 205 |
| LITTLE NESHAMINY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1838 | 188 | 8,870 |
| DUNLAP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1839 | 187 | 6,661 |
| HOKENDAUQUA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1839 | 187 | 75 |
| OVER CONNEAUT CK W BR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1840 | 186 | 219 |
| LITTLE SEWICKLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 3,571 |
| ONTELAUNEE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 222 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 100 |
| WISSAHICKON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 6,457 |
| ROCK CREEK 3370E08 | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 10,769 |
| E BRANCH PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 2,130 |
| MINISTER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1844 | 182 | 14,811 |
| POQUESSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1845 | 181 | 100 |
| CONESTOGA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1846 | 180 | 414 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1847 | 179 | 6,616 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1847 | 179 | 375 |
| W BR OCTORARO CRK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1847 | 179 | 340 |
| DELAWARE RIVER | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 270 |
| COCALICO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 310 |
| Conococheague Creek | Pennsylvania | Good | 1849 | 177 | 5 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 660 |
| CHESTER CREEK / 3696-C10 | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 5,295 |
| SHAWNEE RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 1,030 |
| BRANCH NESHAMINY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 8,784 |
| LOYALSOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1850 | 176 | 113 |
| SEWICKLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 1,100 |
| CATAWISSA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1851 | 175 | 300 |
| MANATAWNY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1852 | 174 | 1,654 |
| SWAMP CREEK / 2585-J10 | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1852 | 174 | 595 |
| S BRANCH OF ROARING CR | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1852 | 174 | 150 |
| BROWNS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1853 | 173 | 50 |
| POQUESSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1853 | 173 | 200 |
| CHILLISQUAQUE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1853 | 173 | 25 |
| Poquessing Creek | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1853 | 173 | 100 |
| PAUNNACUSSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1854 | 172 | 2,246 |
| HAYCOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1854 | 172 | 265 |
| YELLOW BREECHES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1854 | 172 | 1,158 |
| WEST SWAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1854 | 172 | 1,682 |
| STONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1854 | 172 | 15,000 |
| CHIQUES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1855 | 171 | 275 |
| TOWAMENCIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1855 | 171 | 11,616 |
| PENNS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1855 | 171 | 10 |
| BRADY RUN (S BRANCH) | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1856 | 170 | 55 |
| PENN CANAL | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1856 | 170 | 50 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1856 | 170 | 2,994 |
| FRYS RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1857 | 169 | 831 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1858 | 168 | 100 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1858 | 168 | 200 |
| HARTENSTINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1858 | 168 | 1,860 |
| CONRAIL | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1858 | 168 | 39,702 |
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.