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.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BADFISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 3,100 |
| BR LITTLE RIB RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 62 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1944 | 82 | 4,000 |
| ANNIS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 58 |
| GILBERT CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 53 |
| N BR GILBERT CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 215 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 700 |
| COON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 641 |
| WILSON CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 213 |
| COON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,300 |
| DRY RUN | Wisconsin | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| DRY RUN | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 40 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| BR LOWER PINE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| BARKER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| ARMOUR VALLEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 47 |
| HAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 410 |
| SAND SPRING CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 33 |
| OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 265 |
| SNEAD CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 52 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 120 |
| DREWEK CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1945 | 81 | 443 |
| LITTLE LA CROSSE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 23 |
| BR BIG CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 94 |
| BAY CITY CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1945 | 81 | 326 |
| HAWKINS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 316 |
| BR BADFISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2 |
| BR RUSH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 250 |
| BRUNET RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 90 |
| N BR PENSAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1945 | 81 | 101 |
| RED RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 180 |
| ROCKY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| BLACK CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 975 |
| FOX RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 2,900 |
| MILWAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 2,000 |
| YAHARA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 2,000 |
| WISC CENTRAL LTD | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 58 |
| BR LITTLE SUGAR RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 105 |
| BR BLACK CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 44 |
| E BR BIG EAU PLEINE RIVE | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 91 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 82 |
| ROCK CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 52 |
| BALDWIN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 22 |
| M BR EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 77 |
| TILDEN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 715 |
| BR TOWN CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1947 | 79 | 436 |
| MAY COULEE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,200 |
| BR SHULLSBURG BRANCH | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 2,200 |
| LITTLE WOLF RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,700 |
| LITTLE WOLF RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,700 |
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.