Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CYPRESS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 4,650 |
| HENDERSON CR | Illinois | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,300 |
| LITTLE CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,550 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 4,050 |
| BIG MUDDY RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,650 |
| POND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,650 |
| MILL CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 4,450 |
| BR MASTERS CR | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 650 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,150 |
| LITTLE ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 75 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,200 |
| HILLSBURY SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,000 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 1,300 |
| E BR EMBARRAS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 425 |
| LAKE DAM | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 125 |
| RR - CSXT & IHB | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 9,600 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 23,500 |
| LITTLE CAL RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 5,950 |
| M F N BR CHI RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 7,150 |
| MCDONALD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 9,600 |
| ADDISON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 11,800 |
| BUFFALO CREEK TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 16,600 |
| THORN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 15,300 |
| STONY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 14,400 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 13,900 |
| SALT CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 17,000 |
| FLAG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,200 |
| DEER CR | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 5,100 |
| UNION DITCH NO 1 | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,300 |
| JORDAN SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 125 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 650 |
| SALT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 25,600 |
| STINKING CR LATERAL | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 375 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,350 |
| LONE GROVE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 950 |
| LONE GROVE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,200 |
| LONE GROVE BR | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,200 |
| MAGGOT CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 100 |
| TRIB HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 150 |
| TRIB HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 450 |
| TRIB HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 450 |
| SPOON RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,400 |
| TRIB TO BEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,000 |
| HONEY CR | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,350 |
| SMITH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 375 |
| N BRANCH CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 500 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 500 |
| TR1 B OF TRAIL CR | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 575 |
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.