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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,897 |
| POORHOUSE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 7,993 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,261 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,261 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,261 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,261 |
| BLACK BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,230 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,230 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,230 |
| BULLARD CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,388 |
| TRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,388 |
| LOST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 14,969 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 14,969 |
| MOSSY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 17,540 |
| WATAUGA RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 533 |
| ROAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 550 |
| HOLSTON R./R. SHORES DR. | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,259 |
| FIRST CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 16,786 |
| DRY FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 372 |
| SULLIVAN BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,889 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 866 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 866 |
| OVERFLOW | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 866 |
| MILL CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 919 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 367 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,373 |
| SAUNDERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,117 |
| SORRELS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,117 |
| CATHEYS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 311 |
| E FORK LITTLE BIGBY CREE | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 110 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,402 |
| BUCKEYE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 989 |
| PRICE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 989 |
| HOOSIER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,506 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,360 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,360 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,627 |
| FLOWERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 160 |
| SIMMONS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,261 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 70 |
| SULPHER FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 14,283 |
| SULPHUR FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 14,283 |
| LYTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 34,401 |
| LYTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 34,401 |
| LITTLE PIGEON RIVER LL | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50,291 |
| LITTLE PIGEON RIVER RL | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 50,291 |
| LITTLE PIGEON RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 45,086 |
| MISS RIVER & CORD 312 | Tennessee | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 69,044 |
| WOLF RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 8,449 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1949 | 77 | 53,694 |
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.