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.

Clear
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.