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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURNETT CR | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 47 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| NISHNA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| WAUBONSIE CR | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| SPRING VALLEY CR | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| WEST NODAWAY RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| MCCREATH CR | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| MILL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 62 |
| LITTLE WATERMAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| LITTLE OCHEYDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH #42 | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 81 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| WEST MILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 34 |
| PERRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 159 |
| PLYMOUTH CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| FLOYD RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| GRAYBILL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| LITTLE SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 34 |
| LITTLE SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| LOTTS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| W FK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| BR MIDDLE FK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| GOOSEBERRY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| E FK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| TRAIL | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 190 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,280 |
| LONG BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 51 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| FLOYD RIVER | Iowa | Good | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Good | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| HAMILTON-STORY 1 OPEN DD | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| RAVEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 39 |
| RAVEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| RAVEN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
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.