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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W FK LITTLE SIOUX RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 11 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 5 |
| BRANCH NAGEL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 11 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 546 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 179 |
| RALSTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 1,082 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1935 | 91 | 3,370 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,540 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | - |
| SPILLWAY | Iowa | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 400 |
| OLD UP RR & SW 22ND | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 15,634 |
| RACCOON AND RR | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 2,825 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 938 |
| W BR INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 535 |
| DES MOINES RVR & RR | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 6,100 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 387 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,370 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,300 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,530 |
| IA NR RR | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,500 |
| COMPTON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 760 |
| STONEY HOLLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,170 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 700 |
| UP RR | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,020 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,830 |
| DES MOINES RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 31,100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 770 |
| COW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 28,000 |
| CN RR AND 7TH STREET | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 3,159 |
| BNSF RVR STS & IA 376 | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 20,600 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 60 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 71 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 91 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 42 |
| FIELD STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 110 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 79 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| OVER CNW RR | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 255 |
| HUNTER BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 26 |
| GREENBRIER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 16 |
| NORTH SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 106 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 62 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 360 |
| BR KITTY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 62 |
| DME RR | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 200 |
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.