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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANT 5 OPEN DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 59 |
| BRANCH OF RICHLAND CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 29 |
| PAINT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 98 |
| WHITE FOX CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,690 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 780 |
| LAPWORTH CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,759 |
| US 67 MISSISSIPPI RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 7,600 |
| BLACK HAWK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 982 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 34 |
| JOLES CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 412 |
| MOSQUITO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 72 |
| RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 255 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 44 |
| ALLEN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 139 |
| CRANE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 82 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 40 |
| CROOKED CR | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 70 |
| BR TO MIDDLE | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 50 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 50 |
| SOUTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 88 |
| TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 91 |
| ROCK CR | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 62 |
| BR LINN CR | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 80 |
| NISHNABOTNA | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 60 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 21 |
| OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 11 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Good | 1942 | 84 | 100 |
| WEST NODAWAY RIVER | Iowa | Good | 1942 | 84 | 499 |
| BIG CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| W BRANCH FLOYD RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 548 |
| PLATTE BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 5 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 250 |
| STEER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 139 |
| MISS. RIVER HWY & RR | Iowa | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 17,700 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 72 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 20 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 47 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 21 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 30 |
| TROUT RUN CREEK BRANCH | Iowa | Good | 1943 | 83 | 108 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 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.