Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOCUST CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| BIG GEORGE BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| BIG GEORGE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 225 |
| LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| WILLOW BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| SPRINGSIDE BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 1,100 |
| LAKE PANA | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,100 |
| S. FORK SANGAMON R. | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| S. FORK SANGAMON R. | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| SPRING BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| SKAGGS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10,550 |
| SALT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 26,600 |
| WHEELING DRN DTCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 24,900 |
| SALT CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 25,200 |
| BUTTERFIELD CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 5,550 |
| SALT CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 15,400 |
| 26TH ST CONNECTION | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| MIDLOTHIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 5,250 |
| MARLEY CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 7,500 |
| N FORK SALT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| COON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| JORDAN SLOUGH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| SALT FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| SHILOH DRAIN DITCH 3 | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 350 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| THOMPSON RESERVOIR | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| BENTON LAKE | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 550 |
| TRIB BIG MUDDY | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| MIDDLE FORK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| BRANCH BIG MUDDY RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,750 |
| MOSES LAKE | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 325 |
| TRIB TO SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 2,150 |
| TRIB MD FORK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| TRB AKIN CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| EWING CK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| PUT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| BN RR (063478L) | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| SALINE RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 350 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
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.