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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR BULLHEAD SLOUGH | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| ROCK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5,000 |
| BARK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| BARK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,500 |
| BARK RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,500 |
| YELLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,900 |
| CP RR | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,200 |
| LITTLE ELK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 472 |
| YAHARA RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,282 |
| BADFISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,000 |
| EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,150 |
| N BR MILWAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,300 |
| FOX RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,700 |
| EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 306 |
| EAU GALLE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| BIG ROCHE A CRI CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| LITTLE ROCHE A CRI CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,100 |
| LITTLE BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| BR YELLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,500 |
| SUCKER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| VERMILLION RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 225 |
| MOON CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| BR DORITS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| DORRITY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 926 |
| BROWN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 23 |
| BROWN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| TILLER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| HICKEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| MOOSE EAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| LITTLE BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| KOLIN CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 65 |
| S FK FISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 48 |
| ASHWAUBENON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 94 |
| S BR ELK CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 23 |
| YELLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 850 |
| TRADE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 55 |
| POPPLE RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 58 |
| N BR CRAWFISH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 89 |
| BADFISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 264 |
| BADFISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1950 | 76 | 822 |
| BAD FISH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 94 |
| EAU CLAIRE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| MOSHER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,616 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| BR BIG GREEN RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 104 |
| BLAKELY BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 53 |
| MCADAM BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 53 |
| BEETOWN BRANCH | Wisconsin | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 37 |
| SAUNDERS CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 280 |
| BACON BRANCH | Wisconsin | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
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.