Historic Bridges in Colorado
857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANEROS CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 170 |
| I25 DRGWRR FOUNTAIN CRK | Colorado | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 6,482 |
| Williams Fork River | Colorado | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 166 |
| CHERRY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,392 |
| SAND CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1929 | 97 | 17,500 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Good | 1929 | 97 | 19,000 |
| BOB CREEK CANAL | Colorado | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 1,400 |
| BNSF RR | Colorado | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 713 |
| CEMENT CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 647 |
| CONEJOS RIV.OVERFLOW | Colorado | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 3,200 |
| CONEJOS RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,200 |
| ARAPAHO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1 |
| LA PLATA RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 92 |
| MCELMO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 62 |
| POWELL DITCH | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 690 |
| PETERSON CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 720 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 720 |
| FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,182 |
| FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 16,690 |
| CROKE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 16,690 |
| LAKE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25,000 |
| BEAR CREEK | MEADOW DRIV | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 407 |
| PLUM CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 21 |
| SHOOKS RUN | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,652 |
| SHOOKS RUN | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,422 |
| NORTH FORK GUNNISON RVR | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 310 |
| SOUTH BOULDER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 388 |
| Pleas. Valley Lake Canal | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,030 |
| ARKANSAS RIVER | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 132 |
| RED GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 213 |
| HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 720 |
| HUERFANO RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 55 |
| IRONSTONE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 940 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 17,000 |
| FOUNTAIN CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 11,000 |
| COCKELBURR CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 800 |
| N. FK. SMOKY HILL RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 7 |
| TRIB. TO LANDSMAN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 262 |
| BRANTZELL ARROYO SR | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 15,000 |
| THOMPSON CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 13 |
| DRY CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| SAN FRANCISCO CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 8 |
| APISHAPA RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 54 |
| CHANNEY ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 16 |
| CANYON DEL AGUA CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 38 |
| RATON CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 75 |
| PICKETWIRE DITCH | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 124 |
| APISHAPA RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 17 |
| RITO SECO CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 13 |
| Union Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 202 |
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.