Historic Bridges in Iowa
3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 26 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 120 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| WEST BR INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 60 |
| CALAMUS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 45 |
| GRANT 5 OPEN DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 230 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 216 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 139 |
| PINE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 118 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 11 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1938 | 88 | - |
| MIDDLE NODAWAY | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 415 |
| BUCK RUN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 933 |
| NORTH ELK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 278 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 278 |
| EAST OKOBOJI LAKE | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,200 |
| N BRANCH CATFISH CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 33,600 |
| S FORK IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 609 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,590 |
| BRANCH ODEBOLT RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,780 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,780 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 960 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,117 |
| OVER UP RR | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,920 |
| GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1939 | 87 | 60 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 11 |
| TRIB TO BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 34 |
| LITTLE BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 26 |
| QUARTER SEC RUN | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 275 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 399 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 80 |
| SOUTH WHITE BREAST CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 45 |
| ELK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 79 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 39 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 82 |
| ODELL BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 59 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 44 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 44 |
| VOLGA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 29 |
| BOONE RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 478 |
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.