Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISLAND LAKE OVERFLOW | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 19,200 |
| BR KICKAPOO CR | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,500 |
| SANGAMON RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 8,850 |
| BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,000 |
| PIASA CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 4,200 |
| LITTLE PIASA CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,550 |
| S BR LITTLE PIASA CR | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,550 |
| BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,350 |
| SENACHWINE CR TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 500 |
| OHIO RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,450 |
| GROVE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 450 |
| LITTLE INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 75 |
| SNAKE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,650 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,150 |
| LEAF RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,550 |
| COCKELBUR SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,500 |
| SAND SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,500 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1929 | 97 | 900 |
| ROOT LICK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,250 |
| HODGES BAYOU | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 75 |
| POWDER MILL CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1929 | 97 | 3,250 |
| LITTLE CANTEEN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 10,900 |
| DRAINGE TO FHSP LAKE | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,750 |
| TOWN BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,250 |
| HARRISON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 400 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 675 |
| HONEY BROOK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 300 |
| FORK HARRISON BROOK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 400 |
| ROCKY HOLLOW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 400 |
| CROOKED CR TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,250 |
| ILLINOIS RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 1,850 |
| RICHLAND CK&C WIS RR | Illinois | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 475 |
| MACKINAW RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,700 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,050 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,400 |
| UP RR | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,850 |
| TRIM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 250 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,200 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,350 |
| MISS. R./FRONT ST/BN | Illinois | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 8,450 |
| Little Silver Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,600 |
| Shoal Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,050 |
| Indian Creek | Illinois | Good | 1930 | 96 | 2,050 |
| BAY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| DIEHL CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 50 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 75 |
| PRAIRE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,800 |
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.