Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPRING CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 893 |
| PINE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,634 |
| SEVILLE SUMNER DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 5,634 |
| BUSH CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 92 |
| SHAD CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 83 |
| WOOLACE MARTN WALTERS DR | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 976 |
| E BR ONTONAGON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,658 |
| LIBHART CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 1,093 |
| DUNN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,031 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,758 |
| CSX RR & CHICAGO DR | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 22,500 |
| CARP RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 23,600 |
| M-28 BR SILVER ST | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 120 |
| FLAT ROCK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 55 |
| LITTLE GARLIC RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| LITTLE CEDAR RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| LITTLE SALT CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 90 |
| SHANTEE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,680 |
| CLINTON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 500 |
| KLACKING CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,423 |
| MATCH CREEK BURIED | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,331 |
| BIRCH RUN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 1,027 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,770 |
| NS RR | Michigan | Good | 1936 | 90 | 24,093 |
| FRANK & POET DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,984 |
| SILVER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 253 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 9,000 |
| SAGANING CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 7,706 |
| LITTLE CARP RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,883 |
| RYAN DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 10,813 |
| TEBO DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 10,813 |
| RAILROAD DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 220 |
| ELLIOT CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 977 |
| RAPID RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,264 |
| CROOKED RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 8,053 |
| SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1937 | 89 | 108 |
| KEARSLEY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 215 |
| JONES CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 197 |
| BUTTERNUT CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 643 |
| PINE RUN | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,394 |
| FARM DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 5,052 |
| BIG PRESQUE ISLE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,100 |
| MUD CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 3,876 |
| RED CEDAR RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 18,646 |
| COOKS RUN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,090 |
| NORTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 185 |
| NORTH BR SALT RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 185 |
| CONTRIB S BR SALT RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 185 |
| NORTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 123 |
| NORTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 123 |
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.