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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLT CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,700 |
| W BR MILL CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,100 |
| W BR MILL CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,100 |
| N BR PENSAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 750 |
| SPRING CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| LITTLE DRYWOOD CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 840 |
| BIRCH CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 165 |
| HAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 92 |
| S FK LOWER PINE CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 215 |
| LITTLE ELK CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 76 |
| COON CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 94 |
| BR WOLF CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 58 |
| E BR YELLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 133 |
| BR RUSH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 202 |
| BIG RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 885 |
| WEST BRANCH RED RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 100 |
| E FK CHIPPEWA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 291 |
| MCCARTHY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 569 |
| SUAMICO RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 890 |
| NESHOTA RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,800 |
| BR SORENSONS CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1948 | 78 | 6,700 |
| GOGGLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,200 |
| BLACK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 394 |
| WINGRA CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 15,700 |
| EAU CLAIRE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,386 |
| ROUNTREE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,120 |
| CRAWFISH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,900 |
| WOLF RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,600 |
| MONTELLO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,900 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1948 | 78 | 6,100 |
| EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 266 |
| BR KANKAPOT CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,997 |
| CLAM RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 490 |
| ROCK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10,900 |
| W FK CHIPPEWA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 990 |
| EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 740 |
| S BR EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 720 |
| JUGGERUD COULEE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,400 |
| BUFFALO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,200 |
| LINDSAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,700 |
| TRIB TO DAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,900 |
| BR DAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,900 |
| BR DAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,900 |
| BR DAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,900 |
| RUNDAHL COULEE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,200 |
| PONY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 650 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 670 |
| SPRING CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 300 |
| WHITE HOLLOW CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 400 |
| BR E BR PECATONICA RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 380 |
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.