Historic Bridges
94,381 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,381 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUSABLE RIVER | New York | Fair | 1842 | 184 | 3,802 |
| NORTH TURKEYFOOT CREEK | Ohio | Good | 1842 | 184 | 3,596 |
| DRY CREEK | Ohio | Fair | 1842 | 184 | 3,596 |
| BAD CREEK | Ohio | Fair | 1842 | 184 | 3,596 |
| VIEJO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Poor | 1842 | 184 | 6,200 |
| ASSUNPINK CREEK | New Jersey | Poor | 1843 | 183 | 7,285 |
| MINISTER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1844 | 182 | 14,811 |
| GOLD BROOK | Vermont | Fair | 1844 | 182 | 200 |
| WATER IPSWICH RIVER | Massachusetts | Poor | 1845 | 181 | 650 |
| RR HRR ABANDONED | Massachusetts | Fair | 1845 | 181 | 26,400 |
| CROYDON BRANCH SUGAR R | New Hampshire | Fair | 1845 | 181 | 545 |
| POQUESSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1845 | 181 | 100 |
| MILL CREEK | Delaware | Good | 1846 | 180 | 7,382 |
| CONESTOGA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1846 | 180 | 414 |
| RIPPOWAM RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1847 | 179 | 5,700 |
| WATER CHARLES RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1847 | 179 | 10,216 |
| RR GWRR | Massachusetts | Poor | 1847 | 179 | 26,700 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1847 | 179 | 6,616 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1847 | 179 | 375 |
| W BR OCTORARO CRK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1847 | 179 | 340 |
| BOGGS CREEK | Indiana | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 430 |
| WATER NORTHERN CANAL | Massachusetts | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 27,672 |
| WATER NORTHERN CANAL | Massachusetts | Poor | 1848 | 178 | — |
| DELAWARE RIVER | New York | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 270 |
| DELAWARE RIVER | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1848 | 178 | 270 |
| WATER NEPONSET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 23,300 |
| WILD AMMONOOSUC RIVER | New Hampshire | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 529 |
| TRIB.WICKECHEOKE CREEK | New Jersey | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 148 |
| COCALICO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 310 |
| Conococheague Creek | Pennsylvania | Good | 1849 | 177 | 5 |
| LEWIS CREEK | Vermont | Good | 1849 | 177 | 250 |
| LEWIS CREEK | Vermont | Good | 1849 | 177 | 750 |
| FURNACE BROOK | Vermont | Fair | 1849 | 177 | 450 |
| Ohio River | West Virginia | Poor | 1849 | 177 | 5,234 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 21,900 |
| WHETSTONE BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 110 |
| MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Good | 1850 | 176 | 994 |
| RED CLAY CREEK | Delaware | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 3,398 |
| JESSAMINE CREEK | Kentucky | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 868 |
| LITTLE ANTIETAM CREEK | Maryland | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 1,560 |
| WATER ACUSHNET RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 16,422 |
| WATER POWWOW RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 12,700 |
| WATER MERRIMACK RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 16,700 |
| WATER POWWOW RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 3,500 |
| WATER SHAWSHEEN RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 13,319 |
| WATER MILLERS RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 8,663 |
| WATER TEN MILE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 1,071 |
| WATER SEVEN MILE RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 250 |
| WATER CONCORD RIVER | Massachusetts | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 13,000 |
| WATER FORT POINT CHANNEL | Massachusetts | Poor | 1850 | 176 | 17,100 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
| Virgin Islands | 5 | 1904 | 112 yrs |
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.