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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 679 |
| BLUE GRASS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | - |
| PEASE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | - |
| PEASE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1933 | 93 | - |
| EAST NISHNABOTNA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,690 |
| BR LITTLE WAPSIPINICON R | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,030 |
| BRANCH MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,140 |
| BRANCH MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,140 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 6,251 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 289 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 289 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,250 |
| HIGH ST | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,540 |
| BLUE GRASS | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 21 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 216 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 432 |
| BR NORTH RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 20 |
| MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 108 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 11 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 26 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 20 |
| PLUM CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 130 |
| MONK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 90 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 90 |
| PICAYUNE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 30 |
| WEST BRANCH SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 30 |
| CHARITON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 16 |
| RAVEN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 30 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 103 |
| DEEP CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 35 |
| DRAINAGE #42 | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 40 |
| LITTLE OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 15 |
| LITTLE OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 21 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1934 | 92 | 21 |
| DR DISTRICT #11 | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 26 |
| MINK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 60 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 40 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 34 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 20 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 11 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 11 |
| UP RR | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,532 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 288 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | - |
| MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1934 | 92 | - |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1934 | 92 | - |
| APPLE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,070 |
| LITTLE MILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 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.