Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,800 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,550 |
| Sand Brook | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 325 |
| ROCKY FORD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,200 |
| WEST FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 25 |
| MILLER BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| MILLER BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 100 |
| BUTTERFIELD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 6,550 |
| VARIOUS CITY STREETS | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 24,300 |
| LAND | Illinois | Good | 1921 | 105 | 3,950 |
| UNUSED LAND | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 11,500 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 5,100 |
| KINZIE RR & MUNI STS | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 16,550 |
| OLD HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 3,500 |
| STREAM S WHITTINGTON | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 6,350 |
| PLEASANT HILL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| TRIB TO LAMOINE | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 175 |
| S HENDERSON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 200 |
| SUGAR CR | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| CASEY FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 4,600 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 4,150 |
| DE ARCY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 5,300 |
| SNIPE HOLLOW BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 75 |
| BR OF CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 25 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 2,550 |
| TRIB TO LITTLERS CRK | Illinois | Good | 1921 | 105 | 100 |
| OTTER CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1921 | 105 | 400 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 3,600 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| SHORT POINT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 25 |
| TRIB VERMILLION R | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 100 |
| LAHARPE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 350 |
| BAPIST CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 400 |
| DRAIN DITCH RUSH CR | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 275 |
| CAHOKIA CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,800 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 25 |
| HALF-MILE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 6,350 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 550 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 50 |
| MACKINAW R OVERFLOW | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,250 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 75 |
| Little Muddy River | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,300 |
| Nashville Creek W Branch | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 3,450 |
| NASHVILLE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1921 | 105 | 3,300 |
| Nashville Creek E Branch | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 3,300 |
| Beaucoup Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,050 |
| BLACK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,050 |
| ENDSLEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,150 |
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.