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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 49 |
| BRANCH OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 44 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 49 |
| EAST BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 35 |
| SOUTH BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 49 |
| BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 39 |
| SOUTH BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 39 |
| SALT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| DEVILS RUN | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 79 |
| HONEY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| EAST 102 RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| EAST 102 RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 349 |
| TODD BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 21 |
| REEDS CR | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 51 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 26 |
| BOX ELDER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| BRANCH SOUTH RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 29 |
| S RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 71 |
| BR.SOUTH RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| BR SOUTH RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 71 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 103 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,720 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| MILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,930 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 45 |
| PORTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | - |
| LITTLE BLOOMER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 460 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,330 |
| RAILROAD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 565 |
| ROBERTS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 350 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 790 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,240 |
| BR YELLOW RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 11 |
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.