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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINN CR | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 44 |
| MINERVA CR | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 11 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| LAMKIN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 35 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 21 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 26 |
| CAMP CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| BRANCH OF RICHLAND CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| SOUTH BRANCH SALT CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1945 | 81 | 29 |
| BRANCH CRYSTAL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 15 |
| COON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 20 |
| PLATTE RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| PLATTE BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 71 |
| MIDDLE 102 RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 5 |
| BR NORTH WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 11 |
| PAINTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 11 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 170 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,160 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 34 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 40 |
| TRIB TO CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 44 |
| FIELD STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 60 |
| BR LITTLE ELKHORN CR | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 11 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 80 |
| ROCK CR | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 71 |
| ROCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| ROBERT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 196 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 15 |
| STONY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 26 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 45 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 160 |
| BLACK HAWK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 59 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 160 |
| CHARITON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 509 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 20 |
| SKUNK RIVER OVERFLOW | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 224 |
| MINERVA CR | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 30 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 41 |
| DRAINAGE WAY | Iowa | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 60 |
| DD | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 72 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 5 |
| PLYMOUTH CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 5 |
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.