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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 7,200 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 140 |
| BR OF STONY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 35 |
| STONY FORK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 79 |
| BR MINERVA CR | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 16 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 21 |
| BR MINERVA CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 16 |
| RAINES BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,246 |
| MILLER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 20 |
| LITTLE TARKIO TRIB | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 60 |
| LITTLE TARKIO TRIB | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 29 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 26 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| W BR MILL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 30 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH #64 | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 190 |
| MINK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 15 |
| GRAYBILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 34 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | - |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1947 | 79 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 71 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1947 | 79 | 40 |
| HARDIN-STORY DD I | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 60 |
| IOWA RIVER OVERFLOW | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 216 |
| WEST BRANCH 102 RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 26 |
| PAINTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 35 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,980 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,400 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,000 |
| CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 620 |
| EAST SOLDIER RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,120 |
| FOX RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 5,600 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 803 |
| W BRANCH IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 828 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 854 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,880 |
| OVER UP RR | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 9,391 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,500 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| DRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
| FLAT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,000 |
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.