Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBARTS CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 900 |
| WABASHA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 750 |
| SLEEPY EYE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 290 |
| S FK WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 85 |
| HASTY BROOK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,700 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 475 |
| YELLOW MEDICINE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,003 |
| MINNEHAHA PKWY; CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 10,700 |
| BASSETT CREEK TUNNEL | Minnesota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 14,987 |
| N FK WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 570 |
| BASSETT CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 1,690 |
| BASSETT CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 860 |
| BASSETT CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 675 |
| MEADOW CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 451 |
| VERMILLION RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 6,034 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 55 |
| KANARANZI CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 60 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 60 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 49 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 49 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 37 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1923 | 103 | 37 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 23 |
| MINNEHAHA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 6,200 |
| WATERVILLE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,416 |
| WILLOW RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 80 |
| JD #66 (NELSON CREEK) | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,950 |
| SHAKOPEE CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 1 |
| PELICAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,325 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 7,000 |
| NORWEGIAN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 14 |
| CARIBOU RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,000 |
| POKEGAMA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,123 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 710 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,100 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 8 |
| ELM CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 16 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 268 |
| W BR SUNRISE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 30 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 790 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,171 |
| WHITE WATER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 260 |
| BUTTERFIELD CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1925 | 101 | 600 |
| WHITE WATER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 140 |
| WHITE WATER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 530 |
| MILL CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 7,355 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,260 |
| FISH TRAP CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 400 |
| HARDWOOD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 9,405 |
| WEST ALBANY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,434 |
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.