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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,760 |
| NOLICHUCKY RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 2,011 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 1,591 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,591 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,591 |
| GREEN HILL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,370 |
| SMITH FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,370 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 3,313 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 831 |
| OBION RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 483 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,285 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 90 |
| SILVER CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| WEST FORK SHOAL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 120 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,041 |
| HORSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,816 |
| BRANCH (CSTP&FWMA) | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| S.COLONEL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,763 |
| N.COLONEL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,763 |
| CRYSTAL SPRING BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,763 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 5,792 |
| TANYARD BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 314 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 930 |
| CONE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 180 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,005 |
| RIMMER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,189 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,482 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,482 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,482 |
| LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,482 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 115 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,400 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 6,400 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,937 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 7,175 |
| GREASY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| DUCK RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 24,920 |
| MCCLANAHAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,801 |
| BAPTIST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,801 |
| CURRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| EAST FORK CURRY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| BIG BIGBY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,055 |
| FRIERSON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,405 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 349 |
| BEECH FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,023 |
| COPELAND CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,577 |
| LITTLE SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 566 |
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.