Historic Bridges in Colorado
857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harmony No2 Return Canal | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | — |
| Transfer Ditch | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 6,800 |
| North Poudre Canal | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,103 |
| Larimer County Canal | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 91 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,800 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 14,000 |
| RIO GRANDE RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 47 |
| Miller Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 18 |
| Skull Creek | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 23 |
| GRANADA CREEK | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 29 |
| White River | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 164 |
| North Fork White River | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 114 |
| HAY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,901 |
| Larimer and Weld Canal | Colorado | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 304 |
| Rifle Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,547 |
| LARIMER-WELD CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 4,250 |
| BIG DRY CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 40,486 |
| SODA CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 4,159 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 3,400 |
| RATTLESNAKE CREEK SR | Colorado | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 383 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 300 |
| SPRING CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 350 |
| FOUNTAIN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 11,500 |
| BURNT MILL ROAD | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 7,500 |
| CF+I WATER LINES SR | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 474 |
| SALT CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 474 |
| LAMAR CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 13,000 |
| KING ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,844 |
| ANDERSON ARROYO | Colorado | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 3,981 |
| THOMPSON ARROYO | Colorado | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,600 |
| WEST SALT WASH | Colorado | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 131 |
| MOORES CANYON CREEK | Colorado | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,033 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,400 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,900 |
| LITTLE COMANCHE CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 3,400 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Good | 1932 | 94 | 370 |
| FOUNTAIN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 1,300 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 11,000 |
| CHALK CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 7,553 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 15,000 |
| ROCKY FD. HIGHLINE CANAL | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 4,200 |
| Dale Creek | Colorado | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 16 |
| FOUNTAIN CREEK | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 149 |
| CANAL | Colorado | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 380 |
| Beaver Creek | Colorado | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 55 |
| ALAMOSA RIVER | Colorado | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 18 |
| GREGORY GULCH | Colorado | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,289 |
| HOME SUPPLY DITCH | Colorado | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,900 |
| HANDY DITCH | Colorado | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,900 |
| DRAW | Colorado | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 4,900 |
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.