Historic Bridges in Virginia
2,504 bridges built before 1951 in Virginia still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,504 bridges in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch Blackwater Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,979 |
| Branch Blackwater Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,979 |
| Branch Blackwater Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,979 |
| Thornton River | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,132 |
| Branch Back Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 484 |
| TRIB BUFFALO CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,631 |
| ELK CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,313 |
| COOKS CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10,891 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10,891 |
| LITTLE CEDAR CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 495 |
| Beech Fork Creek #2 | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 271 |
| BEECH FORK CREEK #4 | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 271 |
| GUEST RIVER@ NORTON | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5,307 |
| BULL RUN CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 379 |
| CHALK-MINE-RUN | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 9,954 |
| Sandy Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 12,248 |
| CSX RAILWAY | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 17,070 |
| LAFAYETTE RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 17,394 |
| BRAMBLTN AV O MURRAY RUN | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 8,009 |
| LYNCH TRPK O MASONS CK | Virginia | Good | 1938 | 88 | 5,732 |
| Reedy Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,418 |
| NS RAILWAY | Virginia | Good | 1938 | 88 | 10,141 |
| NS Railway | Virginia | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 9,753 |
| CNW RAILROAD | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,392 |
| BRANCH BLACKWATER CREEK | Virginia | Good | 1938 | 88 | 9,584 |
| NORTH FORK CATOCTIN CK. | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,147 |
| BRIERY BRANCH | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| SOUTH FORK PINEY RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| BUSINESS ROUTE 58 | Virginia | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,140 |
| ROUND MEADOW CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,140 |
| HAPPY CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,972 |
| BUCKINGHAM BRANCH RR | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,212 |
| NS RAILWAY | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 4,038 |
| Williams Run | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 3,917 |
| Indian Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 756 |
| Mill Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 899 |
| JENNINGS BRANCH | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 652 |
| COWPASTURE RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,574 |
| COWPASTURE RIVER | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 666 |
| COWPASTURE RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 14 |
| WEST FORK BEAVERDAM CRK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 14,746 |
| North Otter Creek | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 262 |
| CONAWAY CREEK | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,923 |
| LEVISA RV; NS(WELRS YD) | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,517 |
| Maxeys Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,408 |
| Muddy Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,408 |
| Beaver Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11,008 |
| South Fork Falling River | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 201 |
| Hill Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 108 |
| BIG REED ISLAND CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,390 |
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.