Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIB. TO WHITSITT CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| COPPER ROCK CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| DOUBLE BRIDGES CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 55 |
| DRY CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 240 |
| BLUE GUT CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| Flurry Branch | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 230 |
| Wiley Branch | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 275 |
| Woods Creek | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| NORTH FORK BUTT RIVER | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 260 |
| Bush Creek | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 160 |
| East Branch Luxapallila | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 390 |
| Beaver Creek Relief | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 340 |
| Little New River | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 500 |
| NORTH FORK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 105 |
| NO BUSINESS CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 270 |
| Beaver Creek | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 305 |
| TRIB. TO COLWELL CREEK | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| SOUTH FORK SCARHAM CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 94 |
| BRANCH | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 510 |
| SMALL CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| YELLOW CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 290 |
| NORTH FORK CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| Moore Creek | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| TALLADEGA CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 14 |
| BEAVER POND CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 210 |
| BRANCH | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| HOOD BRANCH | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| FINKS MILL POND | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 302 |
| BRANCH | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 460 |
| LITTLE TALL RIVER | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 105 |
| BIG PRARIE CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| WHITSITT CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| DUCK CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 700 |
| NO NAME BRANCH | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 80 |
| NO NAME BR. | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| POTATOE PATCH CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| YELLOW CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| YELLOW CREEK | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| BRANCH | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 90 |
| MILL CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 120 |
| NO NAME BRANCH | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 65 |
| BIG PRARIE CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| BIG PRARIE CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 70 |
| BEAR CREEK | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| WHITSITT CREEK RELIEF | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| 5 MILE CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| BIG PRARIE CREEK TRIB. | Alabama | Good | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| SHOTBAG CREEK | Alabama | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| Concrete Ditch | Alabama | Fair | 1900 | 126 | — |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
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.