Historic Bridges in South Dakota
1,118 bridges built before 1951 in South Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,118 bridges in South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLPH CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,233 |
| LAKE NORDEN OUTLET | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,862 |
| CHAPELLE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 691 |
| EAST ELM CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 33 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,206 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,068 |
| WILLOW CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,768 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,768 |
| BIG SIOUX RIVER | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 11,300 |
| BEAVER CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 300 |
| BEAVER CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 195 |
| PLATTE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 170 |
| SNOW CK | South Dakota | Good | 1950 | 76 | 798 |
| LAKE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO DRY CHOTEAU CRK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| SNATCH CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| SNATCH CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 67 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 241 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 92 |
| SIX MILE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 92 |
| SIX MILE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 714 |
| DEER CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 712 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,159 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 89 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 65 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 65 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 139 |
| SPRING CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 361 |
| WILLOW CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 66 |
| CROW CREEK DITCH | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 234 |
| INDIAN CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| INDIAN CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| HORSE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| WILLOW CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 340 |
| FRENCH CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| FRENCH CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| CENTER LAKE INLET | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,000 |
| GRACE COOLIDGE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| GRACE COOLIDGE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| GRACE COOLIDGE CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| FRENCH CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| TRIB TWELVE MILE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| MUD CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| COBB CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| W BR LAC QUI PARLE RIVER | South Dakota | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| LITTLE MOREAU RV | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| ANDES CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 526 |
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.