Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| SOUTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| MILLER DRAIN NO. 29 | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| INTERMITTENT STREAM | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| BUFFALO COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 5 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 18 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| STONY CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| STOCKYARD CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 24 |
| SPRING COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 5 |
| MOUSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 100 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 24 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 26 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 10 |
| E FORK LITTLE MUDDY CRK | North Dakota | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 24 |
| CEDAR CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 20 |
| SWEET BRIAR CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1922 | 104 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1922 | 104 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 20 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 26 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 18 |
| BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR | North Dakota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 24 |
| BN RAILROAD | North Dakota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 24 |
| BRANCH OF KNIFE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | — |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 20 |
| COUNTY DRAIN | North Dakota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 20 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 20 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 24 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,200 |
| CEDAR CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 1 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 19 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 19 |
| PAINTED WOODS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 24 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 24 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 20 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 20 |
| SOUTH MARIAS RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 24 |
| MORIAS RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 40 |
| SOUTH MARIAS RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2 |
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 25 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 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.