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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 2,000 |
| BRIER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| WILLIAMS CR | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| BR LITTLE CROOKED | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| SOUTH FORK MUD CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 350 |
| DU PAGE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 21,100 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 275 |
| SPRING CR | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 2,350 |
| ROCK RIV& MADISON ST | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 8,500 |
| DRY RUN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 100 |
| BR WALNUT CR | Illinois | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 125 |
| PETTIBONE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,260 |
| LOCUST FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,200 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 100 |
| Bear Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 25 |
| DEER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 19,300 |
| RAVINE | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,200 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,800 |
| SANITARY&SHIP CANAL | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 15,900 |
| LOWER LVL WACKER DR | Illinois | Good | 1926 | 100 | 11,200 |
| GARLAND COURT | Illinois | Good | 1926 | 100 | 4,150 |
| METRA ELECTRIC RR | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 5,250 |
| Land | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 12,900 |
| THORN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 675 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 10,400 |
| UNION STATION | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 5,100 |
| UNION STATION TRACKS | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 5,100 |
| THORN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,400 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,950 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| DRAINS TO AUTEN DTCH | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,550 |
| PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 100 |
| FOX RIVER W CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 11,200 |
| FOX RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 6,650 |
| FLINT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 11,000 |
| BOAT CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 5,750 |
| Flint Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 225 |
| GUM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,450 |
| OTTER CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| Norfolk & Southern RR | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,250 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 550 |
| EAGLE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 75 |
| MOKELER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 600 |
| WILLOW BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 250 |
| BRANCH KICKAPOO CR | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,250 |
| BEAUCOUP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,500 |
| COX CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 725 |
| UNNAMED STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 25 |
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.