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.
| 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.