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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 69 (GRAND AVE.) | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,986 |
| US 65 | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 364 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 210 |
| PLUNGER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 35 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| PATTERSON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 69 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 21 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 26 |
| TRIB TO MILLER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 412 |
| DD 82 | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 34 |
| PURGATORY | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 34 |
| E.CEDAR CR. | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| DD NO. 976 | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 219 |
| DD 181 BIG CEDAR | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 219 |
| FIELD STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| BUCK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 79 |
| W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 26 |
| CURRAN BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 110 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 45 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| BR OF WHITEBREAST CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| WHITEBREAST CK BR OF | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| BR OF ENGLISH CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 21 |
| JONES CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 45 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 29 |
| SOUTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 44 |
| LUTES CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 82 |
| NORTH SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 29 |
| BRANCH S TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| MIDDLE TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 16 |
| SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| NELSON CR | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| BARRY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 21 |
| LITTLE OCHEYDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 21 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 21 |
| KOOLMAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 34 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| MINK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 120 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 30 |
| WEST BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 26 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 80 |
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.