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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| LOST CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| TOWN BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,250 |
| UNION STATION TRKS | Illinois | Good | 1924 | 102 | 6,600 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,650 |
| CTA SKOKIE SWIFT | Illinois | Good | 1924 | 102 | 12,400 |
| BRUSHY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,800 |
| HAYES BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1924 | 102 | 3,050 |
| SCATTERING FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,500 |
| STREAM E OF BENTON | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,850 |
| TRIB. CARLTON BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 75 |
| ROSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,400 |
| PINHOOK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,200 |
| HICKS BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,200 |
| EDWARDS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| PRAIRE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 75 |
| MCCORKLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,000 |
| FOX RIVER E. BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,950 |
| FOX RIVER W. BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,950 |
| FOX RIVER E. BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,550 |
| FOX RIVER W. BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,550 |
| KANKAKEE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 5,700 |
| TRIB VERMILION R | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 75 |
| TRIB SHORT POINT CR | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 275 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 125 |
| TURTLE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 375 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,300 |
| BARRVILLE CR | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 25 |
| POPE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,900 |
| N. HENDERSON CR | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,250 |
| WEST SHOAL CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1924 | 102 | 6,600 |
| MILL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 7,100 |
| SILVER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,850 |
| E BRANCH KISER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,600 |
| GIBBONS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,350 |
| MURPHY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 25 |
| BLACKMAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,050 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 4,100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,800 |
| LITTLE WABASH | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 200 |
| SPOON RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 1,600 |
| BIG NECK CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 850 |
| COAL CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| LAWSON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| LIME CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| ROCKY RUN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 75 |
| BR OF E FK OF PLUM R | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,700 |
| COTTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 500 |
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.