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.

Clear
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.