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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 246 |
| NORTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 246 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,916 |
| GULL LAKE OUTLET | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,069 |
| CONRAIL | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 37,247 |
| PLASTER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 35,442 |
| NASH CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,625 |
| S BR SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 348 |
| RED CEDAR RIVER IMP DRN | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 130 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 54 |
| AUGER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 574 |
| DUTCHMAN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,670 |
| RIVER RAISIN | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 9,360 |
| SALINE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 16 |
| SALINE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,100 |
| FLAT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,822 |
| CARLETON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,470 |
| RIFLE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,120 |
| WEST BRANCH RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 4,184 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,730 |
| CROCKER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,730 |
| OCQUEOC RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 977 |
| SWAN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 4,013 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 5,031 |
| ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1937 | 89 | 57,384 |
| US-24 | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 23,295 |
| US-24 | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 23,295 |
| LOWER ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 14,674 |
| SMITH CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 253 |
| THOROFARE CANAL | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,338 |
| LOW BRANCH ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 10,662 |
| LITTLE LAKE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,400 |
| WHITEFISH RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 8,300 |
| E CHANNEL SAGINAW RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 16,380 |
| W CHANNEL SAGINAW RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25,874 |
| WHITE FEATHER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 8,300 |
| SAGANING CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 569 |
| WHITE FEATHER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 75 |
| PIPESTONE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 491 |
| DOC & TOM CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,855 |
| NORWAY CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 5,855 |
| CSX RR | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10,600 |
| MAPLE RIVER DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 505 |
| SWARTZ CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 12,678 |
| KEARSLEY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 777 |
| MISTEGUAY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 91 |
| W.BR.SWARTZCREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,736 |
| JONES CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 232 |
| PINE RUN | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 596 |
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.