Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAVINE NO 1 | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,750 |
| RAVINE NO 2 | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,750 |
| RAVINE NO 3 | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,950 |
| W F N BR CHICAGO RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 4,675 |
| AUBURN PARK LAGOON | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 500 |
| AUBURN PARK LAGOON | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 225 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,550 |
| AUBURN PARK LAGOON | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 500 |
| AUBURN PARK LAGOON | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 225 |
| BIG MUDDY RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 6,750 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,850 |
| STREAM E OF BENTON | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,850 |
| SUGAR CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,500 |
| BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 3,200 |
| LAKEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 3,200 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 100 |
| N FK LARRYS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 25 |
| HOBBS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,200 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,200 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 3,000 |
| BIG MUDDY OVERFLOW | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 5,350 |
| IL 176 (SCRANTON RD) | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 4,300 |
| EMBARRAS RV OVERFLOW | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 5,400 |
| BEAVER POND DRAIN DT | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 250 |
| TROUBLESOME CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,400 |
| SILVER CREEK OVRFLW | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 800 |
| W Trib to Prairie Cr | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 6,050 |
| BLUE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 50 |
| ZUMA CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 675 |
| CAHOKIA CANAL | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 900 |
| LOOP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 5,350 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1923 | 103 | 11,400 |
| DOUGLAS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 225 |
| S FORK SALINE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,100 |
| SO FORK SALINE RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,650 |
| Lewis Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 75 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 125 |
| LITTLE WABASH RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,750 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 10 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 3,550 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 8,750 |
| JACKSON CR | Illinois | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 75 |
| JACKSON CRK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 200 |
| Big Neck Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 700 |
| URSA CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,300 |
| BNSF RR | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| LOCUST CREEK TRIB. | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,750 |
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.