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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BONNER BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 58 |
| WILLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 100 |
| LENIGAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,300 |
| GIRARDS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 165 |
| N BR HONEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 420 |
| PINE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| PINE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| PESHTIGO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| TORCH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 297 |
| BUFFALO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 750 |
| DUNCAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 9,920 |
| LRD COTTAGE GROVE RD | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 22,300 |
| LRD TERRACE AVE | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 27,300 |
| PHEASANT BRANCH CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15,700 |
| CRAWFISH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 880 |
| ANNIS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,900 |
| POPPLE RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1949 | 77 | 520 |
| SINNIPEE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 107 |
| ROCK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,002 |
| SOPER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,300 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 7,200 |
| BR GOOSE CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1949 | 77 | 5,100 |
| ROOT RIVER CANAL | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,802 |
| ROCK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,600 |
| BARABOO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,200 |
| NARROWS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,700 |
| OCONTO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 753 |
| BR KING CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,200 |
| SPRING VALLEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,300 |
| HONEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,900 |
| LAC LA BELLE LAKE | Wisconsin | Good | 1949 | 77 | 5,700 |
| LITTLE WOLF RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,169 |
| S FK EAU CLAIRE RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1949 | 77 | 58 |
| BUTLER CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 880 |
| BUTLER CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,000 |
| PLATTE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 107 |
| ERICKSON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 105 |
| BR LITTLE SUGAR RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 211 |
| SHULLSBURG BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 88 |
| GALENA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 58 |
| FISCHER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 580 |
| MARENGO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| BIG ROCHE A CRI CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,700 |
| CHIPPEWA RIVER 19 | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,070 |
| MT VERNON CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 2,189 |
| CRAWFISH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 940 |
| RED CEDAR RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,600 |
| ROCK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| BLUE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 470 |
| LITTLE PLATTE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 630 |
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.