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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 770
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 1,950
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 4,520
BNSF RR Iowa Fair 1940 86 2,462
WAPSIPINICON RIVER Iowa Poor 1940 86 462
MISS RVR RR & IA 461 Iowa Poor 1940 86 26,500
SMALL NATURAL STREAM Iowa Poor 1940 86 649
SHANGHAR CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 21
STREAM Iowa Poor 1940 86 11
STREAM Iowa Poor 1940 86 62
KEMP CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 26
SHANGHAI CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 91
BRANCH VILLAGE CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 108
CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 15
CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 21
CREEK Iowa Good 1940 86 30
E NISHNABOTNA RIVER Iowa Fair 1940 86 40
TRIB TO CEDAR RIVER Iowa Poor 1940 86 25
BIG CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 50
DRY CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 20
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 35
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 44
BUFFALO CR Iowa Fair 1940 86 40
NORTH RACOON RIVER Iowa Fair 1940 86 71
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 15
YANKEE RUN Iowa Poor 1940 86 330
W FORK BEAVER DAM CREEK Iowa Fair 1940 86 16
BEAR CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 538
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 79
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 79
CREEK Iowa Good 1940 86 35
EAST SOLDIER RIVER Iowa Fair 1940 86 11
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 89
OVER IAIS RR Iowa Poor 1940 86 150
N WYACONDAH RIVER Iowa Fair 1940 86 50
N WYACONDAH CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 60
CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 34
N CHEQUEST LAKE CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 15
TRIB SOAP CR Iowa Fair 1940 86 71
SMALL STREAM Iowa Poor 1940 86 70
STREAM Iowa Poor 1940 86 60
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 39
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 26
CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 20
CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 120
VOLGA RIVER Iowa Poor 1940 86 33
HAUGH CREEK Iowa Poor 1940 86 20
MINOR DRAINAGE Iowa Fair 1940 86 11
RACCOON RIVER Iowa Fair 1940 86 170
STREAM Iowa Fair 1940 86 50

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.