Historic Bridges in Wisconsin
1,333 bridges built before 1951 in Wisconsin still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,333 bridges in Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED CEDAR RIVER | Wisconsin | Good | 1919 | 107 | 12,200 |
| ST LOUIS RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,650 |
| RUSH CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,389 |
| COON CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 78 |
| CRANBERRY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 108 |
| BIG GREEN RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 53 |
| S BR YELLOW RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 86 |
| LITTLE ELK RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 307 |
| MULLET RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 47 |
| BR RIB RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 30 |
| BEAR CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 3,300 |
| ERICKSON CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 263 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 107 |
| WEBSTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,500 |
| LITTLE PESHTIGO RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 1,700 |
| ONION RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 2,400 |
| OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 2,700 |
| BRUNSWEILER RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 99 |
| BR LIGHTNING CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 25 |
| SIOUX CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| SIOUX CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 150 |
| LANCASTER BROOK | Wisconsin | Good | 1920 | 106 | 400 |
| N BR MANITOWOC RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 41 |
| BR PINE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 41 |
| S FK PAINT CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 410 |
| PANTHER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 58 |
| W FORK KNAPP CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 170 |
| HAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 107 |
| MULLET RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 45 |
| DRY HOLLOW CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 51 |
| SAUNDERS CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 53 |
| DUCK CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 58 |
| S FK COPPER RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 23 |
| DEVILS CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 72 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 270 |
| BR SHEBOYGAN RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 220 |
| BR BRANCH RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 60 |
| SILVER CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 48 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 88 |
| RANDALL CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 30 |
| BR HAMAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 30 |
| BR SODA CREEK | Wisconsin | Good | 1920 | 106 | 272 |
| EAGLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| LITTLE PESHTIGO RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 125 |
| WAUSAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 560 |
| WAUSAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| APPLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 47 |
| BLACK OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 940 |
| EMBARRASS RIVER | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,435 |
| BR TOAD CREEK | Wisconsin | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 94 |
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.