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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRENT RUN | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,795 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,090 |
| PINE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 5,225 |
| NEW RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 2,173 |
| S BRANCH KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 150 |
| YELLOW RIVER DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,030 |
| NORTH ORE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 670 |
| PORTAGE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 80 |
| CANADIAN NATIONAL RR | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 4,114 |
| MICHIGAMME RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,850 |
| TROUT FALLS CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 140 |
| WELDON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,307 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 16,168 |
| JO DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 202 |
| JO DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 51 |
| ANN ARBOR RR | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,702 |
| NS & GTW RR | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 3,200 |
| CLINTON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 22,953 |
| HUFTILE CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 400 |
| WAPATO CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 1,845 |
| BIG IRON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 831 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,707 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,850 |
| FOX RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 225 |
| PORTER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 135 |
| BELLE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 7,474 |
| ST CLAIR RIVER CN RR | Michigan | Good | 1938 | 88 | 7,234 |
| FRANK & POET DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20,187 |
| SAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,093 |
| LAUGHING WHITEFISH RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,093 |
| CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORP | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,222 |
| LONG LAKE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,816 |
| LWR S BR THUNDER BAY RIV | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,850 |
| THUNDER BAY RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15,700 |
| LAKE RUTH | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,625 |
| HIGH BANK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,239 |
| OX CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,900 |
| COLDWATER RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1939 | 87 | 10,550 |
| PIGEON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,188 |
| PRENTISS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 975 |
| TROUT CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 828 |
| NORTH BR TOBACCO RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 280 |
| RAPID RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 145 |
| TOBACCO RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 6,100 |
| S BR PAINT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,090 |
| COUNTY DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,942 |
| PHILP DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 74 |
| PONY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 56 |
| PORTAGE RIVER DRAIN | Michigan | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,180 |
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.