Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N BRANCH WHITE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 100 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 100 |
| WHITMORE DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 10 |
| BIRCH RUN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 7 |
| SILVER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 44 |
| BEALS & FRIZZLE DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 225 |
| MICHIGAMME RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1911 | 115 | 81 |
| BUSH CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1911 | 115 | 61 |
| STONY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 176 |
| LITTLE PORTAGE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 70 |
| N BR PENTWATER RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 20 |
| SMITHS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1912 | 114 | 105 |
| HURON RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 18,300 |
| TRENTON CHANNEL | Michigan | Fair | 1913 | 113 | — |
| CANOE STREAM | Michigan | Fair | 1913 | 113 | 150 |
| SE BRANCH OF MAPLE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 212 |
| BRIAR HILL CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 50 |
| SAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| PINE RUN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 14,723 |
| S BR KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 55 |
| SHEBEON DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 240 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 15,940 |
| BRAYTON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| OX CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| KALAMAZOO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 9,775 |
| STONY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 1,299 |
| PILGRIM RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 5,543 |
| PLASTER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 16,531 |
| LAMB CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 675 |
| BIG POTATO CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 39 |
| SOUTH BR PINE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 585 |
| BIG CREEK A DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 175 |
| BIG CREEK A DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 5 |
| BIG CREEK A DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 90 |
| BIG CREEK A DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 30 |
| TOBACCO RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 1,470 |
| NOTTAWA CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 61 |
| SWARTZ CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 12,900 |
| CSX RR (ABN) | Michigan | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 15,341 |
| MOLASSES RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 155 |
| SILVER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 32 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 5,910 |
| IRON RIVER BURIED | Michigan | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 8,200 |
| INDIAN MILL CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 8,072 |
| S BR SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 10,370 |
| MANISTIQUE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 10,220 |
| AU TRAIN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,848 |
| NOTTAWA CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 43 |
| NOTTAWASSEPEE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 439 |
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.