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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 16,100 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,600 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 24,400 |
| I&M CANAL | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 1,900 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 6,500 |
| TINLEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 31,400 |
| DEER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 8,950 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 26,800 |
| CC & PAC. RR | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,350 |
| NORDIC SPRING BROOK | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 13,400 |
| FLAT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 75 |
| HOFFMAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| TRIB HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| TRIB LITTLE HICKORY | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 75 |
| OTTER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,750 |
| SPOON RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 1,000 |
| COAL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| BRANCH OF CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 375 |
| TRIB LITTLE MUD CR | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| TRIB TO PIGEON CR | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 75 |
| BIG MUDDY RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,450 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,700 |
| Trib to Otter Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 950 |
| TRIB TO BOYER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,750 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 450 |
| APPLE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,550 |
| MENOMINEE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,150 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 14,300 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,000 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,500 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 275 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| ROOKS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 225 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| VERMILION RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 2,600 |
| EDGEWOOD RAVINE | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 21,200 |
| MONEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,400 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 2,100 |
| MACKINAW RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| BNSD OUTFALL SEWER | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 4,100 |
| BNSD OUTFALL SEWER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,100 |
| BR MACOUPIN CR | Illinois | Good | 1925 | 101 | 35 |
| TRIB TO SPANKER BR | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| CRANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 550 |
| BIG 4 RESVR OVRFL | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,900 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,000 |
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.