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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,222 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,222 |
| WIDOW CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 790 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 713 |
| BATES BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 713 |
| SEXTON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 692 |
| RECTOR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 823 |
| BROWN BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,290 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,469 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,990 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 60 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 16,884 |
| LECONTE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 9,141 |
| BASKIN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 9,141 |
| ROARING FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 25,019 |
| CNIC RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 110 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 4,375 |
| WARD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,375 |
| BR OF REEDY CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 3,100 |
| BOWMAN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,635 |
| COLLINS RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 570 |
| LITTLE LIMSTN CR &SOU RW | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 9,226 |
| ADEN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 240 |
| SHARPS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 13,759 |
| CARTWRIGHT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 18,784 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1938 | 88 | 23,624 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1 |
| FIGHTING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1 |
| FIGHTING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1 |
| BROWN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 23,670 |
| GRAVEL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20,238 |
| FLAGG BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 20,238 |
| SOUTH MOUSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 694 |
| HICKS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 8,202 |
| DOE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 13,783 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,874 |
| LITTLE FIELDS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 110 |
| WHITES CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 273 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 15,748 |
| WOLFDEN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,506 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,241 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,241 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,134 |
| LEWIS CREEK CANAL | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,134 |
| LEWIS CREEK CANEL | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,134 |
| BRANCH OF RUSSELL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 616 |
| RUSSELL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 616 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,285 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 669 |
| ROTTEN FORK WOLF RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 140 |
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.