Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO COVE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| LONG BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,460 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 230 |
| WAGNER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 301 |
| FACTORY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 518 |
| ELK RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,339 |
| CLOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 285 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 368 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 830 |
| LYNN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 546 |
| NORTH CHOATE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| ROBERTSON FORK BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| TRADE BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| CHOATE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 610 |
| SHANNON CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| PLEASANT RUN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 340 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,280 |
| BUCHANAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 370 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 140 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,932 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,932 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 5,421 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,381 |
| FROST BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,190 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,116 |
| HIGGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,490 |
| MEADOW CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 456 |
| MUD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 861 |
| LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 189 |
| BABB CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 691 |
| CANEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 110 |
| MCNEW BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 390 |
| RIPLEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,380 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,380 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,384 |
| LONG FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,530 |
| SCOTT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 369 |
| BERNER CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,971 |
| FULTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,869 |
| ROCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,280 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 963 |
| YOUNG CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 456 |
| SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,336 |
| FLAT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,842 |
| STRINGERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 457 |
| PITTS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 120 |
| STRINGERS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 170 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 24,904 |
| DOLLAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 630 |
| CHALK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
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.