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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
OLD LODGE CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 100
WEST BR BULL CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 35
CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 10
CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 50
CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 100
CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 100
CK South Dakota Fair 1950 76 50
EAST FORK VERMILLION RV South Dakota Poor 1950 76 50
ELCE CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 25
CK South Dakota Fair 1950 76 35
CK South Dakota Fair 1950 76 40
CK South Dakota Good 1950 76 20
WEST UNION CK South Dakota Good 1950 76 500
CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 45
EAST UNION CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 45
EAST UNION CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 25
EAST UNION CK South Dakota Poor 1950 76 110
DRAINAGE DITCH South Dakota Good 1950 76 30

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.