Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCHIE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,250 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,650 |
| W TRIB LTL CROOKD CR | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,550 |
| FOX RIVER SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 250 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,050 |
| PLUM CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1932 | 94 | 10,600 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 2,550 |
| DEER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,850 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 6,200 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,000 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 325 |
| MCKEE CK | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 75 |
| ROCK CRK. | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 125 |
| SEXTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 175 |
| WALNUT SPECIAL DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,950 |
| HENNEPIN CANAL | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 2,400 |
| BUREAU CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,100 |
| CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,800 |
| PAPER MILL BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 950 |
| DRY BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 250 |
| RR - EJ&E | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 39,500 |
| DES PLAINES RIV | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 14,300 |
| IL 58 (WOLF RD) | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 10,900 |
| N BR CHI RIV WEST | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 23,800 |
| N BR CHI RIV CENTER | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 19,100 |
| N BR CHI RIV EAST | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 19,100 |
| CAL SAG CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 17,700 |
| N LAG MARQUETTE PARK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 16,700 |
| S LAG MARQUETTE PARK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 16,700 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 5,250 |
| LAWRENCE AVE | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 71,800 |
| WILSON AVENUE | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 80,100 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 800 |
| OTTER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 1,600 |
| BRUSHY FORK | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 500 |
| W BR DUPAGE RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 18,700 |
| IL 38 | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 29,300 |
| W BR DUPAGE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 27,500 |
| E. BR. DUPAGE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 22,700 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,450 |
| BR OF SWEGLE CR | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 1,600 |
| EDWARDS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 150 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 350 |
| PIKE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 375 |
| BEAVER DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 400 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 900 |
| L. MBORO SPILLWAY | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,500 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,900 |
| BR LITTLE RUSH CR | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 100 |
| BEAR BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,350 |
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.