Historic Bridges in Nebraska
3,270 bridges built before 1951 in Nebraska still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,270 bridges in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAIN CH N PLATTE R | Nebraska | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 760 |
| N CH N PLATTE R | Nebraska | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 760 |
| NORTH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,675 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Good | 1920 | 106 | 55 |
| LITTLE SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 60 |
| OAK CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| SOUTH LOUP RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| COMER CANYON | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 75 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 40 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| SOUTH LOUP RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 5 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 15 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 15 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 5 |
| TILTOTSONS CANYON | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 15 |
| LIME CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1920 | 106 | 25 |
| SOUTH CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 15 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 26 |
| JOHNSON CREEK S FORK | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 35 |
| DRY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 40 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| W BR SPRING CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| DAVIS CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 40 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| STREAM (J 138) | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 242 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 30 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| S CH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 65 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 25 |
| BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 25 |
| BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| TURTLE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 65 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 35 |
| ELM CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 150 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 10 |
| S BR HUMBUG CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 40 |
| PAWNEE CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1922 | 104 | 30 |
| LITTLE SANDY CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1922 | 104 | 85 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Good | 1922 | 104 | 35 |
| SCHOOL CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 25 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 10 |
| ELK CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 10 |
| LINCOLN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 50 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 50 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 40 |
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.