Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE EMORY RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,329 |
| RED RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| UNNAMED BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,585 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 2,474 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 2,474 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 2,474 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,474 |
| PHILLIPS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,560 |
| DUMPLIN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 180 |
| GISTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,652 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 5,309 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 16,141 |
| HARRISON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 27,391 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 337 |
| WALKER FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,243 |
| WALKER FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,243 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,430 |
| TOWN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 13,339 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 284 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 576 |
| BYBEE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 370 |
| BACON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 463 |
| BACON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 463 |
| CLARKS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 3,352 |
| BUTLER CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 110 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 907 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 1,212 |
| ROUND LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 230 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| PAINT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| PAINT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| PAINT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| PAINT CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| PAINT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| BALD RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 100 |
| SUGAR COVE BR. | Tennessee | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| WOODS RESERVOIR | Tennessee | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 890 |
| SEQUATCHIE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 200 |
| BIG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,104 |
| STONY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,909 |
| BULL RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 14,975 |
| BRANCH OF SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 5,459 |
| WEST FORK CLOVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,893 |
| PIGEON RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 8,209 |
| WILEY CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 920 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 8,738 |
| BYRDS CR & LAKE (CMSP) | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,794 |
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.