Historic Bridges in Iowa
3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa 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 MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,690 |
| BLACK HAWK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 3,230 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 810 |
| CC RR | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,353 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 180 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 600 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,570 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,300 |
| PONY CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1931 | 95 | 468 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 7,600 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 797 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 797 |
| LIME CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,970 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,750 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 21 |
| BR RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 20 |
| LAKE CK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 60 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 11 |
| SIOUX RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 39 |
| SEWER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 11 |
| JIM CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 71 |
| LITTLE CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 226 |
| OLD CHANNEL DES MOINES R | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 72 |
| CYLINDER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 30 |
| BIG CREEK TRIBUTARY | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 264 |
| BOYER RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 20 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1931 | 95 | 20 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1931 | 95 | 61 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 40 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,090 |
| MIDDLE BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,890 |
| BEAVER DAM CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,230 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 700 |
| PINE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 760 |
| OVER CC RR | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 578 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,357 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 780 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 5,650 |
| RALSTON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 13,500 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 620 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 620 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1932 | 94 | 2,030 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,200 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,180 |
| FLOYD RIVER TRIBUTARY | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,200 |
| GODDARD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,250 |
| EAGLE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,450 |
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.