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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 622 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 30,949 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 610 |
| ILLIONIS CENTRAL R.R. | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,628 |
| BOILING FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 470 |
| CROW CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| CROW CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 487 |
| BEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 102 |
| BEATY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 60 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,887 |
| COVE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 269 |
| LITTLE WOLFTEVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 13,009 |
| SOUTHERN RAILWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 27,012 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,517 |
| MOUNTAIN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 30,012 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 500 |
| FOURTH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,790 |
| BURNETT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,139 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 30,276 |
| THIRD CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 14,546 |
| FIRST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 18,242 |
| FIRST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 18,242 |
| FIRST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 18,242 |
| HYDE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 6,653 |
| ROCKHOUSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 520 |
| BUCHANAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,614 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 5,215 |
| LITTLE MOUSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 730 |
| SOUTHERN RAILWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,350 |
| N.FORK PRYOR COVE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 950 |
| BIG ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 6,277 |
| SNAKE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 8,437 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 90 |
| TUMBLING CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 170 |
| GREASY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 354 |
| GREASY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 354 |
| NASHVILLE & EASTERN RR | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,206 |
| CANEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,032 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 4,643 |
| OVERALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,238 |
| STEWARTS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 4,952 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 4,952 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1936 | 90 | 4,999 |
| HAPPY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 160 |
| CLINCH RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,801 |
| TUMBLING CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| DOUBLECAMP | Tennessee | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| SCIOTO CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| FALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 7,683 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 7,683 |
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.