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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONKEY RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,140 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 3,013 |
| DES MOINES RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 17,517 |
| RALSTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 449 |
| RALSTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 4,693 |
| HEWETT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 275 |
| NORTH SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 1,170 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,550 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 5,100 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 737 |
| W.FK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 737 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 309 |
| DM RIVER & B AVE | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,300 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 21 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 21 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 15 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 100 |
| WINNEBAGO RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 30 |
| LITTLE TURKEY | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 62 |
| OVER UP RR | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 1,846 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 300 |
| BR N RACCOON | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 113 |
| PANTHER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 21 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 69 |
| EAST BUTTRICKS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 170 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 15 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 70 |
| BR IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 130 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 79 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 619 |
| NELSON CR | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 30 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 26 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 26 |
| MILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 15 |
| SMALL UN-NAMED CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 34 |
| RAT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 90 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 35 |
| SNOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 15 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Good | 1935 | 91 | 359 |
| BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 26 |
| HAMILTON-STORY 1 OPEN DD | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 39 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 11 |
| TANGEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 59 |
| CANOE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 147 |
| PARNELL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 5 |
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.