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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,883 |
| MORGAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,198 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,392 |
| ROBERTSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,392 |
| TRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11,007 |
| BULL RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 210 |
| BYRAMS FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,673 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 513 |
| NELSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 16,580 |
| LITTLE HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,558 |
| BUTLER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 498 |
| GARRISON FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 522 |
| CLEM CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| NORTH FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| FALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| NORMAN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 280 |
| BELL BUCKLE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| STOKES BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| GARRISON FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,517 |
| BELL BUCKLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,906 |
| HATCHET CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,279 |
| WARTRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,279 |
| MUD CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 693 |
| BIG SPRING BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15,078 |
| COLEMAN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,923 |
| COLEMAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,923 |
| BOBO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,993 |
| LITTLE BEAVER DAM CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 460 |
| NINE MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,228 |
| ISH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 455 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,148 |
| TAYLOR BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 360 |
| SOUTHERN RAILWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,843 |
| BLACK FOX CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 750 |
| CHATATA CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 329 |
| CHATATA CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 268 |
| LITTLE CHATATA CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 485 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,240 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,690 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 9,931 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 840 |
| MARSHALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| PARCHCORN HOLLOW BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| HILL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| BRAWLEYS FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| HUNTING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 110 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,833 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 426 |
| CEDAR FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,304 |
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.