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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wards Fork Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,630 |
| WRIGHTS RUN | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 339 |
| Meadow Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 820 |
| Craig Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 364 |
| Devils Run | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,809 |
| Hazel River | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,809 |
| GRAVELLY RUN | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,702 |
| Turkey Run | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,820 |
| Greasy Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,695 |
| W Fork Little River | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,360 |
| Howells Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,360 |
| DRY RUN | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,038 |
| Mayo Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,781 |
| Woods Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,694 |
| Terrible Creek | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 450 |
| Big Polecat Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,996 |
| UPHAM BROOK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 9,549 |
| Little Reed Creek | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11,564 |
| JONES CK & Abandoned RWY | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15,661 |
| BACK CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 367 |
| W BR CORROTOMAN RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,092 |
| BELLWOOD RUN | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 6,092 |
| POTOMAC RVR; CSX; C&O | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20,831 |
| Conway River | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,039 |
| NS Railroad | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,469 |
| Mill Race Overflow | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 726 |
| Tye River | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 726 |
| Mountain Run | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,009 |
| BIG RUN | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 193 |
| NORWOOD CREEK | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 7,387 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 819 |
| WEST SWIFT RUN | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,407 |
| S F SHENANDOAH RIVER | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,429 |
| ELK RUN @ ELKTON | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,247 |
| HAWKSBILL CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,782 |
| PLUM CREEK | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,642 |
| SPRING BRANCH | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,888 |
| QUAKER SWAMP | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 12,427 |
| NF SHEN RV @ TIMBERVILLE | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 9,291 |
| NORTH RIVER | Virginia | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 70 |
| VA ROUTE 614 | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,140 |
| VA ROUTE 638 | Virginia | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,140 |
| VA ROUTE 620 | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| HANKS BRANCH | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| EAST FORK CHESTNUT CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| WEST FORK CHESTNUT CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| WEST FORK CHESTNUT CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| WEST FORK CHESTNUT CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| WEST FORK CHESTNUT CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,347 |
| OGLE CREEK | Virginia | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,241 |
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.