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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STONES RIVER | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 25,759 |
| JONES BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 970 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 831 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 110 |
| DUNN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,596 |
| BR. OF NONCONNAH CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,595 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,595 |
| CHANNEL 3 DR / RIVERSIDE | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 480 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 1,728 |
| DYERS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,381 |
| SOUGAN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,700 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,332 |
| EVANS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,359 |
| AKARD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,205 |
| BACK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,205 |
| SENEKER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,205 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,853 |
| FINLEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,853 |
| BIG BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 858 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 14,885 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,043 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,342 |
| ROUND LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,512 |
| BEECH LOG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,512 |
| CENTER HILL DAM SPILLWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 684 |
| MIDDLE PRONG LITTLE RIVE | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| WEST PRONG LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,436 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 10 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 577 |
| MARKS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5,530 |
| SYCAMORE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,222 |
| OVERALL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,651 |
| CANEY FORK RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,861 |
| NAILS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 980 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 980 |
| PARKER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,122 |
| BARREN FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,420 |
| NAILS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,420 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 245 |
| DEADMAN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,351 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,351 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 4,351 |
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.