Historic Bridges in Tennessee

2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.

Bridges Built Before 1951

The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
SOUTH FORK BUFFALO RIVER Tennessee Fair 1940 86 440
COTTS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 210
BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 430
SQUAW BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 799
STEADMAN CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 260
ELK RIVER Tennessee Fair 1940 86 96
NORRIS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 60
NORRIS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 60
BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 40
BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 130
BUCKEYE CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 30
SHELTON CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 30
HARPER BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 1,750
KELLY CREEK Tennessee Poor 1940 86 130
LEATHERWOOD CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 100
BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 100
NORRIS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 40
DRY CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 501
LITTLE CANE CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 298
CATTRELL SPRING CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 2,610
STILES CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 703
MUDDY CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 3,011
LITTLE CHESTUEE CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 738
GEE BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 400
LITTLE SEWEE CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 323
LITTLE SALT LICK CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 313
CANE CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 550
EXTENSION STREET Tennessee Fair 1940 86 1,337
BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 670
POPLAR SPRINGS BRANCH Tennessee Poor 1940 86 1,690
POPLAR SPRING CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 330
REXTON HOLLOW CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 40
STANDIFER BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 110
HICKS HOLLOW BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 919
LEDFORD BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 499
WRIGHT BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 2,799
LYTLE CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 1,289
HAMPSHIRE CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 311
BEECH CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 571
LEIPERS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 140
BASSHAN CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 290
FOUNTAIN CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 210
CEDAR CREEK Tennessee Poor 1940 86 60
ISBELL BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 556
CARTERS CREEK Tennessee Fair 1940 86 220
DOG BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 70
DOG BRANCH Tennessee Poor 1940 86 100
KETTLE BRANCH Tennessee Fair 1940 86 120
LEWIS CREEK Tennessee Good 1940 86 542
SMALL BRANCH Tennessee Good 1940 86 1,825

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.