Historic Bridges in Arkansas
1,932 bridges built before 1951 in Arkansas still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,932 bridges in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Creek Seb. Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 540 |
| Creek-Washington Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 500 |
| Little Wildcat Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,000 |
| Little Frog Bayou | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,405 |
| Wilson Branch | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,094 |
| Pigeon Creek Seb. Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 20 |
| Clear Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 135 |
| LONG CREEK | Arkansas | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 678 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 336 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 759 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 557 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 513 |
| Rabbit Creek Ft Smith | Arkansas | Good | 1942 | 84 | 2,295 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1942 | 84 | 19,000 |
| Hurricane Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 551 |
| DITCH NO 7 | Arkansas | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,398 |
| DITCH 16 | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,711 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1942 | 84 | 330 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Arkansas | Good | 1942 | 84 | 625 |
| LONG CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 810 |
| FOURCHE RIVER | Arkansas | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 180 |
| Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,253 |
| Caney Cr - Jefferson Co | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,500 |
| TOWN CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 390 |
| FOREST CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 620 |
| N SYLAMORE CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 140 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Arkansas | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 1,700 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 350 |
| Creek Seb. Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 101 |
| Bridger Creek/Lateral 2 | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 50 |
| E Fork of Hampton Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 700 |
| DITCH | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 11,000 |
| BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER | Arkansas | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 20 |
| Prairie Creek | Arkansas | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 8,291 |
| LITTLE MO RIVER | Arkansas | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 9 |
| Ditch | Arkansas | Good | 1944 | 82 | 4,100 |
| Prairie Creek Polk Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 720 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 360 |
| NORFORK DAM SPILLWAY | Arkansas | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 2,800 |
| Little Post Bayou | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| Cedar Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 86 |
| South Fork Creek | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 643 |
| LITTLE GLAZYPEAU CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,000 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 68 |
| Indian Creek-Polk County | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 80 |
| Mill Creek - Polk Co. | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| CREEK | Arkansas | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 180 |
| Clear Creek - Springdale | Arkansas | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 181 |
| Big Fork Creek-Polk Co. | Arkansas | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 62 |
| Little Lee Branch Polk | Arkansas | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
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.