Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEAL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 540 |
| PATTON HOLLOW BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 190 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,672 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,566 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10,633 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10,633 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10,633 |
| NORTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| CARR BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,514 |
| WEAKLEY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,801 |
| WEAKLEY CREEK OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,801 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,801 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,801 |
| HOOK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,801 |
| PISTOL CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,787 |
| PISTOL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,890 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,992 |
| WATAUGA RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 888 |
| TIGER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,386 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,460 |
| LAUREL FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 2,460 |
| MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 40 |
| NFA A035-FAU 4334-CSX RR | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 17,321 |
| LITTLE DUCK RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 16,822 |
| HESSEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 12,037 |
| WAGNER CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 14,723 |
| BOILING FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 16,421 |
| GERMAN CR. CHEROKEE LAKE | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,737 |
| SHIELDS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,584 |
| RILEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 733 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,770 |
| HALE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,770 |
| PORTERS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,870 |
| BIG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,094 |
| BIG CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,147 |
| MOORESBURG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 7,510 |
| ERIN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,372 |
| DANIEL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 700 |
| PECK BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1941 | 85 | 664 |
| BEARD BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1941 | 85 | 5,405 |
| GREENLICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,849 |
| EAST FORK GREENLICK CREE | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,849 |
| BAT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,557 |
| BONE CAMP CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 466 |
| WEST FORK OBEY RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 894 |
| WOLF CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,563 |
| DILLARD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 692 |
| DESHEA CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 13,975 |
| HONEY RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 8,067 |
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.