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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| MASON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| TRIB TO MASON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| SOUTH RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 34 |
| KEG CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| ALLEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| ALLEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| HOFFMAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| BOYER RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 89 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 79 |
| NORTH TURKEY | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 79 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 170 |
| PRICE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 34 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 35 |
| BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 91 |
| BRANCH OF SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| BRANCH OF SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 16 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 88 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 290 |
| BR OF CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 16 |
| DR TO FIVE MILE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 16 |
| CARRUTHERS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| BR N CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | - |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| BRANCH TO CLANTON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 71 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 89 |
| GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 379 |
| SIDE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| LUTES CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| BRANCH N SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| MIDDLE TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 41 |
| DEVILS RUN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 69 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
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.