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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOWAGIAC CREEK MILL RACE | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,800 |
| DOWAGIAC CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,800 |
| CHRISTIANA CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 8,072 |
| E BR WAISKA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,956 |
| FORD RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 13,600 |
| STURGEON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 467 |
| MAPLE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,952 |
| BEAVER CREEK DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 118 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 15,000 |
| DEER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 175 |
| BRULE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,031 |
| SOUTH BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 81 |
| FLAT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 18,836 |
| NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR | Michigan | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 16,443 |
| BOGUE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 70 |
| SKEELS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,355 |
| MINERAL RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 875 |
| RUSH CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 7,552 |
| MESSNER DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,700 |
| CHEBOYGANING CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,975 |
| CASS RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,516 |
| KREGER DRAIN | Michigan | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,188 |
| KREGER DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,188 |
| BLACK RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,460 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,100 |
| MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 43 |
| US-12 | Michigan | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 7,350 |
| BIG INDIAN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 394 |
| N BR KAWKAWLIN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 172 |
| GTW RR | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 18,057 |
| LITTLE THORNAPPLE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 2,581 |
| STRAITS OF MACKINAC | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 11,076 |
| FORTUNE LAKE OUTLET | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,653 |
| RAISIN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 120 |
| EGYPT CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,565 |
| BLACK RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,378 |
| SWAN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | — |
| CARMODY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,969 |
| MARINE CITY DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,717 |
| ROCKY RIVER RACE | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 9,299 |
| ACM TEST TRACK | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 38,000 |
| ACM TEST TRACK | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 23,000 |
| WILLOW RUN | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,643 |
| MONTREAL RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 558 |
| DRIGGS RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 12,100 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 547 |
| ESCANABA RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1943 | 83 | 80 |
| CASS RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 11,600 |
| ECORSE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 47,664 |
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.