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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 5 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1932 | 94 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 903 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 15 |
| UNNAMED CR | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 913 |
| BEAVER CREEK BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 265 |
| LITTLE ELK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 42 |
| CLANTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 477 |
| OVERFLOW CLANTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 450 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 450 |
| SOUTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 11 |
| ENGELS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 139 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 15 |
| WHEELER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 11 |
| WILDCAT GLEN | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 253 |
| SOAP CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 660 |
| KEMP CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 368 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 6,850 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 2,628 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 2,628 |
| DES MOINES RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 22,400 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,320 |
| FLOYD RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,807 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,210 |
| BOONE RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,180 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,100 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 21 |
| RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 34 |
| WINNEBAGO RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 69 |
| ROBERTS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 25 |
| SCHOOL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 45 |
| ELK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| WARREN GROVE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 21 |
| LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 11 |
| WATERMAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 26 |
| OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 30 |
| FLOYD RIVER OVERFLOW | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 26 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 139 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1933 | 93 | 1,416 |
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.