Historic Bridges in Wisconsin
1,333 bridges built before 1951 in Wisconsin still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,333 bridges in Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR FOX RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,600 |
| BR OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 940 |
| PECATONICA RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 58 |
| COTTAGE INN BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 58 |
| BR PECATONICA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 94 |
| BR COTTAGE INN BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 58 |
| BR GALENA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 305 |
| N BR PINE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 55 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,760 |
| BLACK CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 128 |
| HAMAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 91 |
| FREEMAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 81 |
| LITTLE PESHTIGO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| CNW RR | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 95 |
| ROOT RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,200 |
| MILWAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,650 |
| LITTLE LEMONWEIR RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 250 |
| BARABOO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| BLACK CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 205 |
| APPLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 94 |
| WAUPACA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 52 |
| BR ROOT RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 119 |
| BR CAMP CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| DEER TAIL CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 23 |
| LITTLE THORNAPPLE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 22 |
| OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| LITTLE BARABOO RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 7 |
| BRUNET RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 204 |
| BR RED RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 301 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| BR BLACK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 748 |
| BORST VALLEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| GRANT CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 23 |
| DODSON HOLLOW CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| BR HORNBY HOLLOW CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 94 |
| HORNBY HOLLOW | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| BR TAINTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| WEISTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| BR HARRISON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| SUGARBUSH CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 102 |
| BR CEDAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,100 |
| OCONOMOWOC RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,068 |
| COCO CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,900 |
| S BR PIGEON RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 565 |
| CRYSTAL RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 206 |
| PIGEON RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 312 |
| CYSTAL RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1940 | 86 | 229 |
| BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
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.