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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITICO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 110 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,869 |
| PASSENGER CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 338 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| ANTIOCH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 648 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 989 |
| MUD LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 542 |
| FLAT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 545 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 956 |
| WEST FORK OBEY RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| WEST FORK OF OBEY RIVER | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 487 |
| CARR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,002 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,577 |
| BURRA-BURRA CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 4,700 |
| NORTH POTATO CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,700 |
| BUFFALO VALLEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 121 |
| BRANCH OF BIG HOLLOW BR | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| BIG INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| LITTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,731 |
| BARNES HOLLOW BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 210 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 370 |
| MAXWELL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| CANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,827 |
| CAVE SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,871 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 2,958 |
| LITTLE RICHLAND CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,959 |
| KINGS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 417 |
| HINES CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 250 |
| BUCK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| SMITH CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 970 |
| CANEY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| WARTRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,752 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 178 |
| BEDNIGO BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 350 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 998 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 564 |
| LYTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,961 |
| HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 209 |
| REED CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 170 |
| STEWART CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,230 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5,228 |
| ROCK SPRINGS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,900 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 564 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,479 |
| HARPETH RIVER | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,479 |
| KELLY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,865 |
| WEBB CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 269 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 113 |
| BRIMSTONE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| WOODCOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,433 |
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.