Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S FK SANGAMON RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 13,500 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,500 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,400 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,700 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 17,200 |
| FARM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 650 |
| MIDDLEFORK VERM RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,600 |
| MIDDLE FORK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,550 |
| GRAND POINT CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,600 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,600 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,600 |
| LOST CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,750 |
| GREEN RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,550 |
| HORSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,300 |
| SO FORK KENT CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 400 |
| KEITH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 7,750 |
| W BR PANTHER CR | Illinois | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 200 |
| MISSISSIPPI R | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 3,450 |
| BRANCH MASTERS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 225 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,500 |
| FLAT BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 25 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 12,400 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 25,100 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 17,000 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 13,000 |
| WILLOW CR | Illinois | Good | 1929 | 97 | 14,300 |
| MAIN BR CHICAGO RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 6,800 |
| Drainage Ditch | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 200 |
| EJ&E RR | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 19,100 |
| SPRING BROOK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 25,800 |
| W BRANCH DU PAGE RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 22,800 |
| RAMSEY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
| HALLTOWN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 2,100 |
| W.BR COPPERAS C | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 3,800 |
| CRAWFORD CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 1,400 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,350 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,700 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,700 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,250 |
| IROQUOIS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,750 |
| WHISKEY CR | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 25 |
| TRIB LANGAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 25 |
| VIRGIL DR DITCH NO.3 | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 600 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1929 | 97 | 11,200 |
| BOYINGTON RAVINE | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,500 |
| MIDDLETON RAVINE | Illinois | Good | 1929 | 97 | 2,500 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 2,250 |
| 5 M CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,150 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 400 |
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.