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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
STREAM Iowa Fair 1944 82 4,280
DRAINAGE DITCH Iowa Fair 1944 82 3,040
W FORK BEAVER DAM CREEK Iowa Good 1944 82 21
W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER Iowa Poor 1944 82 46
BEAVER CREEK Iowa Fair 1944 82 11
STAFF CR Iowa Poor 1944 82 15
DEVIL CREEK Iowa Fair 1944 82 45
CREEK Iowa Poor 1944 82 73
LITTLE ASHER CREEK Iowa Poor 1944 82 21
STREAM Iowa Fair 1944 82 26
STREAM Iowa Fair 1944 82 21
STREAM Iowa Poor 1944 82 21
MARSHALL-STORY DD#2 Iowa Fair 1944 82 30
GRANT 5 OPEN DITCH Iowa Fair 1944 82 40
BENNETT CREEK Iowa Poor 1944 82 59
CREEK Iowa Poor 1944 82 44
BR LITTLE TURKEY RIVER Iowa Fair 1944 82 25
DRAINAGE Iowa Poor 1945 81 226
DRAINAGE DITCH Iowa Fair 1945 81 3,340
DRY RUN CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 3,880
SHANGHAR CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 15
STREAM Iowa Poor 1945 81 26
CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 35
CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 45
MUD CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 34
WAPSIPINICON RIVER Iowa Poor 1945 81 33
STREAM Iowa Fair 1945 81 1,041
SUGAR CR Iowa Fair 1945 81 90
ROCK CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 170
SIBLES CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 50
CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 35
BUFFALO CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 26
SNY MAGILL CR Iowa Fair 1945 81 59
W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER Iowa Poor 1945 81 30
EAST SOLDIER RIVER Iowa Fair 1945 81 30
STREAM Iowa Fair 1945 81 26
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1945 81 97
COOPER CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 31
SOUTH BEAVER CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 11
SMALL STREAM Iowa Poor 1945 81 11
STREAM Iowa Fair 1945 81 29
SIX MILE CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 26
DRAINAGE WAY Iowa Poor 1945 81 10
SMALL Iowa Fair 1945 81 180
WALNUT CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 5
SMALL CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 62
MINERAL CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 26
DRAINAGE Iowa Poor 1945 81 29
HICKORY CREEK Iowa Fair 1945 81 400
TIMBER CREEK Iowa Poor 1945 81 59

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.