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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE WHITEBREAST CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 11 |
| SOUTH RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 349 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,714 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 89 |
| BNSF RR | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 360 |
| OVER UP RR | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 360 |
| WAPSINONOC CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 176 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 62 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 60 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 15 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 264 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 40 |
| E FK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 71 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 34 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 11 |
| BALLARD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 100 |
| EAST BR INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 40 |
| BRANCH OF IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 491 |
| EAST BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 39 |
| WEST BRANCH 102 RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 309 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 530 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 1,650 |
| TURKEY RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 118 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH 107 | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 26 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 684 |
| DES MOINES RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 4,166 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,050 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,050 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,050 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,050 |
| LONG DICK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,180 |
| TRULINER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 649 |
| OVER UP RR & STREET | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 3,200 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 20,500 |
| BN RR SCOTT AVE& MLK PKW | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 33,600 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,820 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 417 |
| BR UPPER IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 15 |
| DRY RUN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 90 |
| BIG CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,230 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 21 |
| EAST CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 16 |
| BRANCH LITTLE SIOUX | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 26 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 62 |
| FROG CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 35 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
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.