Historic Bridges in West Virginia
1,245 bridges built before 1951 in West Virginia still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,245 bridges in West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CABIN CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 30 |
| BARTLEY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 250 |
| UNNAMED STREAM | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 350 |
| WIDEMOUTH CREEK | West Virginia | Good | 1948 | 78 | 2,200 |
| BLUESTONE RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 450 |
| CACAPON RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| Wheeling Creek | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 7,300 |
| ZEKE RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,200 |
| TYGART VALLEY RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 8,000 |
| SUGAR RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 450 |
| LONG RUN | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 90 |
| BRUSHY FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 700 |
| BRUSHY FORK | West Virginia | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 700 |
| HUGHES RIVER | West Virginia | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,900 |
| JOES CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,800 |
| RIGHT FORK STEER CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 400 |
| RIGHT FORK STEER CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 400 |
| NINEMILE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11,600 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| FOURPOLE CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,300 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| DUNLOUP CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 18 |
| BROWNS CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 300 |
| BRANCH SYCAMORE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| ELK CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| MILL CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 6,200 |
| RIGHT FORK OF TWOMILE CK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| COPPERAS MINE FORK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5,100 |
| FINCHS RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 250 |
| PAW PAW CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 90 |
| PRICKETT CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| DAVY RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 550 |
| Middle Grave Creek | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| CROOKED CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| WIDEMOUTH CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,200 |
| BLUESTONE RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| STAGGS RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| CABIN RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,400 |
| SLEEPY CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| Little Wheeling Creek | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| ROUGH RUN | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 400 |
| LITTLE HURRICANE CREEK | West Virginia | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 8,500 |
| DAVIS LICK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| NORTH FORK HUGHES RIVER | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| BRADSHAW CREEK | West Virginia | Good | 1949 | 77 | 109 |
| TUCKER CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 3,500 |
| SPAW LICK | West Virginia | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,200 |
| TUSCARORA CREEK | West Virginia | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 3,000 |
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.