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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 120 |
| BEECH SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 7,322 |
| BEECH SPRINGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 7,985 |
| LITTLE ELK RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,009 |
| WHISTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,009 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,640 |
| MCKINNEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,386 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 160 |
| CHAVIS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,276 |
| POND CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,090 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,090 |
| LONG CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 210 |
| DRY FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 70 |
| WHITES CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 193 |
| FALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 640 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 180 |
| SO. PRONG CLEAR FK. CR | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 348 |
| DRY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 30 |
| EAST FORK LYNN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,842 |
| RAY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,130 |
| MEADOW CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 13,327 |
| COLLEGE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 240 |
| COVE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 10 |
| LITTLE GAP CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 467 |
| SMALL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| RANGER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 3,869 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 2,280 |
| SHORT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| POOR VALLEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,295 |
| DODSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 781 |
| TURKEY PEN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 70 |
| GIN CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| WHITEOAK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 224 |
| DUCK RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 601 |
| SOUTHERN RAILWAY | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,581 |
| DOE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 1,413 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 4,453 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 2,428 |
| LEGG CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1945 | 81 | 3,243 |
| FIRST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,060 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,330 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 4,513 |
| TUCKAHOE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 150 |
| CHILDRESS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 3,767 |
| GRASSY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15,134 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 19,396 |
| THIRD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 23,666 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 10,611 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 180 |
| BARBERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 987 |
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.