Historic Bridges in Rhode Island
179 bridges built before 1951 in Rhode Island still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 179 bridges in Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST BRANCH SNEECH BROOK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 11,938 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,102 |
| HEMLOCK BROOK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 11,806 |
| PETERS RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 12,300 |
| TEN MILE RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 7,250 |
| BRIDLE / HIKING TRAIL | Rhode Island | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 5,534 |
| PROVIDENCE RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 23,254 |
| BARNEY POND | Rhode Island | Good | 1927 | 99 | 200 |
| MOOSUP RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,636 |
| HUNT RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1928 | 98 | 17,000 |
| AMTRAK & RAILROAD ST | Rhode Island | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 7,070 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 12,626 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 15,000 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 15,000 |
| STILLWATER RESERVOIR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 10,415 |
| GREENVILLE BROOK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 15,861 |
| MT HP BY N SEC RR 114 LP | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 18,924 |
| P&W RR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,709 |
| HUNT RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25,883 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 6,243 |
| SEEKONK RVR & STS | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 120,000 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 8,865 |
| MILL CANAL | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,040 |
| WOOD RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 233 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,136 |
| PETERS RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,860 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,033 |
| USQUEPAUG RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 9,628 |
| EISENHOWER LAKE | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 9 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,314 |
| WOOD RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,768 |
| USQUEPAUG RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 5,430 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,297 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 329 |
| AMTRAK & P&W RR | Rhode Island | Good | 1931 | 95 | 7,541 |
| WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 8,137 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 12,200 |
| WOOD RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,629 |
| WOOD RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,629 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,297 |
| STILLWATER RESERVOIR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 9,419 |
| DOLLY COLE BROOK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 10,926 |
| NANAQUAKET POND | Rhode Island | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 6,868 |
| PONAGANSETT RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 10,926 |
| PASCOAG RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 14,200 |
| ASHAWAY RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 180 |
| PONAGANSETT RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 6,153 |
| JOHNSONS POND | Rhode Island | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 4,870 |
| PETTAQUAMSCUTT RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 10,491 |
| NONQUIT POND | Rhode Island | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 957 |
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.