Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 229 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,826 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,826 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,826 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,826 |
| FRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 260 |
| FRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 260 |
| FRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 260 |
| BEATY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,150 |
| TACKET BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 207 |
| SHANNON BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 70 |
| CLOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,319 |
| BURGESS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,677 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,016 |
| MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,051 |
| BRANCH FALL CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,175 |
| LITTLE SODDY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 836 |
| BOAT BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,848 |
| WOODWARD BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,109 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 555 |
| GENTRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 739 |
| FURNACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,120 |
| TOWN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,305 |
| ROSEBERRY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,181 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 26,329 |
| NORTH FORK TURKEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 26,329 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 26,329 |
| LAMMIE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 12,226 |
| KERNS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 12,226 |
| BOLES BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,606 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,606 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,606 |
| HENDRIX CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 700 |
| HARGISS COVE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 110 |
| OWEN SPRING BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,597 |
| FRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,930 |
| MOORESVILLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,930 |
| GLOBE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,930 |
| DOG BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 90 |
| CURRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 220 |
| EAST FORK GREENLICK CREE | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 440 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 230 |
| JOHNSON MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,433 |
| ROYSTER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,050 |
| HARRISON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30,550 |
| WOLF RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 11,202 |
| SCOTT BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 571 |
| REEDY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 13,839 |
| STATER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 9,891 |
| RIGHT FORK SLATERS CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 9,891 |
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.