Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 775 |
| LUSK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 700 |
| E TRIB TO PLUM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,900 |
| MARYS RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 1,600 |
| TRIB TO MUD CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 1,350 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 7,700 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 525 |
| LITTLE SANDY CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 1,150 |
| PLUM CR. BR. | Illinois | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 200 |
| YELLOW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 150 |
| LITTLE MACKINAW RIVE | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 50 |
| STONY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 225 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 300 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 300 |
| ELLISON CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 125 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,750 |
| OVERFLOW CROOKED CR | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,750 |
| SKILLET FORK | Illinois | Good | 1934 | 92 | 900 |
| I & M CANAL | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,800 |
| LILY CACHE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 29,200 |
| DES PLAINES RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 9,800 |
| S FORK SALINE RELIEF | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,000 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,000 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 625 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 200 |
| MUD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| PLUESTER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,100 |
| UPRR & CSX(abnd) & TR199 | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,600 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 25 |
| WILKEN LAKE | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,250 |
| SHOAL CREEK overflow | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,250 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 10 |
| POLECAT CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 100 |
| RR- CSXT | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 13,700 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 19,100 |
| N Br Chicago River | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 22,900 |
| RR - CSXT | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 25,000 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1935 | 91 | 17,300 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 13,400 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 12,600 |
| CAL SAG EXTENSION | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 20,500 |
| N SHORE CHANNEL | Illinois | Good | 1935 | 91 | 30,100 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1935 | 91 | 6,700 |
| NORTH CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1935 | 91 | 5,700 |
| THORN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 10,200 |
| PARKING LOT ENTRANCE | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,700 |
| EMBARRAS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,850 |
| ARCOLA #4 DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 150 |
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.