Historic Bridges in Nebraska
3,270 bridges built before 1951 in Nebraska still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,270 bridges in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TURKEY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 5 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| YANKEE CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 50 |
| BAZILE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 60 |
| UNION CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 20 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 35 |
| S FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 15 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| LONG BRANCH | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 35 |
| GOOLSBY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 25 |
| SARDINE BRANCH | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| SWAN CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| TRI-STATE CANAL | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 100 |
| TRI-STATE CANAL | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 40 |
| LINCOLN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 25 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 15 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 40 |
| DRY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| LOGAN CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 45 |
| DOG CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 25 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 30 |
| N CHANNEL PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 40 |
| LITTLE BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 50 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 5 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 35 |
| SCHOOL CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 45 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Good | 1916 | 110 | 20 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 20 |
| E BR MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 5 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 5 |
| SAPPA CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 75 |
| HAWTHORNE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 50 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1916 | 110 | 5 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1916 | 110 | 20 |
| LITTLE SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1917 | 109 | 110 |
| DRY SANDY CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 10 |
| INDIAN CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Poor | 1917 | 109 | 70 |
| S BR MIDDLE CREEK (M 23) | Nebraska | Fair | 1917 | 109 | 108 |
| E BR VERDIGRIS CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 5 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 35 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 15 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 35 |
| M BR BIG NEMAHA R(W 104) | Nebraska | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 57 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 30 |
| NORTH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 745 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 40 |
| LITTLE SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 35 |
| HORSESHOE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 25 |
| N FK SWAN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 20 |
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.