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.

Clear
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.