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.

Clear
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.