Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEEL BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,697 |
| WORKHOUSE BAYOU | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 31,566 |
| DILLARD CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1942 | 84 | 692 |
| TILSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 234 |
| SAMS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 215 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 620 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1942 | 84 | 620 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 317 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1942 | 84 | 8,970 |
| ARRINGTON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 8,970 |
| WILSON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 8,970 |
| TELLICO RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 100 |
| WILBUR BLUFF | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 849 |
| WATAUGA RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 841 |
| STOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 6,431 |
| UNION TEMPLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 3,530 |
| BUSBY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1943 | 83 | 2,735 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,290 |
| ROBERTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 321 |
| SEEHORN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 831 |
| BALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 240 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 100 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 3,340 |
| NEELEYS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1943 | 83 | 6,075 |
| CASPER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 5,140 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 4,385 |
| BLEDSOE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 4,385 |
| ROCKY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 5,135 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,883 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,500 |
| DRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,500 |
| DALE HOLLOW DAM SPILLWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 136 |
| OCOEE RIVER | Tennessee | Good | 1943 | 83 | 50 |
| LITTLE GASSAWAY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1943 | 83 | 50 |
| BULL RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 16,580 |
| TAYLOR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 4,855 |
| RUSHING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 1,843 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 120 |
| THOMPSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 250 |
| SNAKE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 2,561 |
| GATTIS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1944 | 82 | 2,788 |
| EAGLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 6,641 |
| LITTLE EAGLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 5,908 |
| POLECAT CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 230 |
| BEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 1,830 |
| S. FK. FOUNTAIN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 150 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 14,534 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 22,020 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,626 |
| S. FORK CROOKED CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 214 |
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.