Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| NORTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| COW CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| COW CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 24 |
| E. FORK LITTLE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| STONY CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 24 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 750 |
| CEDAR CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 35 |
| MCKENZIE SLOUGH | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 745 |
| MURRAY DRAIN NO. 17 | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 490 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 160 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 230 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 220 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 210 |
| LEGAL DRAIN 40 | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 21,900 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 900 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 510 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 640 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 9,940 |
| COUNTY DRAIN NO 3 | North Dakota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 5,400 |
| BR. OF CART CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 550 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 5 |
| CREEK BED | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2 |
| CREEK BED | North Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| CREEK BED | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| SPRING CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| PETERS CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 20 |
| EGG CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 5 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 24 |
| INTERMITTENT STREAM | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 20 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 19 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 10 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 150 |
| COYOTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 330 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 490 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 450 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 290 |
| COUNTY DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 510 |
| SWEET BRIAR CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 930 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 290 |
| LONG CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 35 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 375 |
| ELK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 2 |
| OTTERTAIL CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 25 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 24 |
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.