Historic Bridges in Arkansas
1,932 bridges built before 1951 in Arkansas still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,932 bridges in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Fork Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30 |
| Petit Jean River | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 285 |
| TOMAHAWK CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| Big Branch Seb. Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,500 |
| Diamond Grove Stream | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 310 |
| Ballard Creek - Wash. Co | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 416 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 34 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 540 |
| BEAR CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 751 |
| NASTY CREEK | Arkansas | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,460 |
| STRAWBERRY RIVER | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 170 |
| BRANCH | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 170 |
| Brier Creek - Polk Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 155 |
| Clear Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 977 |
| Clabber Creek | Arkansas | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,600 |
| DRY JORDAN CREEK | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 264 |
| SPRING BRANCH (CITY) | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 49 |
| BRANCH OF SNEEDS CR | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 150 |
| Creek Sebastian County | Arkansas | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 78 |
| FLAT CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 660 |
| Prair Creek BR 043 | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 100 |
| Creek BR 015 | Arkansas | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 100 |
| Creek BR 030 Ft Chaffee | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| ROOKER CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 18,000 |
| Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,700 |
| MC CARGO BRANCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,900 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 560 |
| BIG CREEK | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 17,000 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,194 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,290 |
| Ditch | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,699 |
| Ditch | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,600 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,619 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,619 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,619 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,619 |
| GULPHA CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,900 |
| Carters Creek | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,900 |
| Carter Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,900 |
| Drainage Ditch | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,600 |
| Chances Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,100 |
| West Turner Branch | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,727 |
| Cedar Creek Tributary | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,727 |
| Drainage Ditch Number 2 | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 899 |
| EASSIS CREEK | Arkansas | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 680 |
| Duke Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 67 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 12,000 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 999 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 970 |
| Ditch | Arkansas | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,225 |
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.