Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 20 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 20 |
| CART CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 120 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 25 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,076 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 5 |
| BOUNDRY CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 5 |
| CP RAILWAY | North Dakota | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 25 |
| SOURIS RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 35 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 20 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 10 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 360 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 300 |
| WEST BRANCH SHORT CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 5 |
| PEMBINA RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 470 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 12,600 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 810 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,200 |
| BOIS DE SIOUX RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 15,200 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 310 |
| CEDAR CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| BEAR CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 405 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 24 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 225 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 30 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| MURRAY DRAIN NO. 17 | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5 |
| DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| BUFFALO COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 24 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 27 |
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.