Historic Bridges in Nebraska
3,270 bridges built before 1951 in Nebraska still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,270 bridges in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLAG CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 350 |
| ELK CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 4,920 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 35 |
| S CH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 35 |
| SAND CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 10 |
| BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 61 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 40 |
| LINCOLN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| COON BRANCH | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 50 |
| DRY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 230 |
| WAHOO CREEK N FK TRIB | Nebraska | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,240 |
| FLAT CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 200 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 75 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 40 |
| LITTLE BAZILE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| S FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| POLE CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| LITTLE MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 40 |
| FOURMILE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 35 |
| PONY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| HALFBREED CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 30 |
| N FK SWAN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 20 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 25 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| SILVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 115 |
| WAHOO CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 105 |
| OTOE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 37 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 100 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 30 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 35 |
| LODGEPOLE CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,335 |
| ROAD DITCH | Nebraska | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 609 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 90 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 205 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 205 |
| UPPER CLEAR CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 100 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 12 |
| LINCOLN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 60 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,220 |
| SILVER CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 8,520 |
| SILVER CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 8,520 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 81 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 61 |
| NORTH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 155 |
| STREAM (S 59) | Nebraska | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 225 |
| S CH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 645 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 100 |
| N FK SWAN CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 30 |
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.