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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 50 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 51 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 11 |
| CRANE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| DD | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 91 |
| CHERRY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 30 |
| ALLOWAY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 16 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 78 |
| BR OF CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 16 |
| BNSF RR | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 1,090 |
| NORTH CLANTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 60 |
| LUTES CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 82 |
| SWEETLAND CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 80 |
| HARVEY DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 45 |
| BIG SLOUGH CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 45 |
| WATERMAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,057 |
| SO BR LITTLE FLOYD RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 30 |
| FRINK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 246 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 71 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| SIXMILE CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1937 | 89 | 71 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1937 | 89 | 34 |
| OLD SKUNK RIVER CHANNEL | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 80 |
| EAST BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 33 |
| NORTH COON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 88 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 5 |
| UPPER IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 324 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 126 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,027 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 2,027 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 70 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 2,027 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,224 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,184 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,500 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 878 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 1,190 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,020 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 9,382 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 185 |
| WINNEBAGO RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 9,091 |
| DOLBEE CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 900 |
| HAWKEYE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 770 |
| WEST OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,127 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,190 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 1,180 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,180 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,730 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 417 |
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.