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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 24,200 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,150 |
| OTTER CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 250 |
| TOMAHAWK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 500 |
| DIAMOND CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 725 |
| DITCH MURRAY SLUICE | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,000 |
| SMALL STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,700 |
| BR OF MACKINAW RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 75 |
| N FORK SALT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,200 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 6,950 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,000 |
| JUDYS BRANCH CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 10,600 |
| BURDICK BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 6,300 |
| SCHOOLHOUSE BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 17,100 |
| LITTLE MOONEY CK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 5,450 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 17,700 |
| MAUVAISE TERRE BR | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,900 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,900 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,600 |
| PRINCE RUN | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,450 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 1,650 |
| MARYS RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 3,450 |
| TRIB TO HORSE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 3,900 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 7,700 |
| TRIB TO LOOP CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 14,400 |
| TRIB TO SILVER CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 6,650 |
| Lake Springfield | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,850 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,800 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 10,100 |
| ELKHORN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,050 |
| TRIB TO NASHVILLE CR | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 10,200 |
| ELKHORN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2,050 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1933 | 93 | 150 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 500 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,000 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 13,600 |
| DESPLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 11,110 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,400 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,200 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 275 |
| WALNUT DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 225 |
| BRANCH OF CROW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 425 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 175 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 175 |
| LAKE CREEK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 4,500 |
| SUGAR CREEK BR | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 4,800 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 25,200 |
| S & S AND I&M CANALS | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 32,400 |
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.