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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.