Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| E BR PIGEON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,658 |
| TINSEY DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 250 |
| TINSEY DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 270 |
| N BR OF KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 700 |
| COMSTOCK CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,016 |
| N BR BOARDMAN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,567 |
| FLAT RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1940 | 86 | 18,836 |
| TYLER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,652 |
| NASH CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,589 |
| RAYMPH DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,293 |
| NORTH BR. FLINT RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 210 |
| RAISIN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 13,979 |
| ORE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 23,661 |
| MILLECOQUIN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,813 |
| PORTAGE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,125 |
| BETSIE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,219 |
| E BR ESCANABA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,907 |
| ROCKY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 890 |
| PESHEKEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,220 |
| BUTTERNUT CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,487 |
| GREEN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,103 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,800 |
| UPPER ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,580 |
| WEST BRANCH RIFLE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 700 |
| MID BR ONTONAGON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 400 |
| MUSKEGON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,990 |
| WEST BRANCH R (COYLE CR) | Michigan | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,864 |
| BLACK MALLARD RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,261 |
| THOMPSON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| MISTEQUAY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,039 |
| SAGINAW RIVER PRK ACCESS | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10,950 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1940 | 86 | 385 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 444 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 179 |
| BELLE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 430 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,157 |
| PINE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,416 |
| TRIB TO PAW PAW RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,915 |
| MILL RACE | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,367 |
| M-153 | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,506 |
| BLAKELY DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5,767 |
| FORD ROAD | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,511 |
| HURON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 750 |
| DIVERSION DITCH | Michigan | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| RIFLE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1941 | 85 | 830 |
| E BR GALIEN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,051 |
| DOWAGIAC CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,800 |
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.