Historic Bridges in Illinois
3,065 bridges built before 1951 in Illinois still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,065 bridges in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROOKS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 25 |
| PRAIRIE CK TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| HORSESHOE LK CHANNEL | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,050 |
| MARTIN BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,450 |
| MAEYSTOWN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 350 |
| HAMOND MUTUAL DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 100 |
| KYTE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,100 |
| BR TIBER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 700 |
| CNIC RR | Illinois | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 400 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 725 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1941 | 85 | 625 |
| BR OF COPPERAS CR | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 100 |
| LITTLE SILVER CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| EAST BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,350 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 8,500 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 2,150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 125 |
| PECATONICA RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,200 |
| BR OF PRESTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| Union Pacific Railroad | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,350 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1941 | 85 | 250 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 250 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 250 |
| BR OF NORTH CR | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 475 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,950 |
| BNSFRR | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,450 |
| Main St / FAS 1748 | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,450 |
| BRANCH OF BEAVER CR | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,950 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 8,500 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 100 |
| RR - METRA | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 31,700 |
| HACKETT BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 300 |
| OWL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,400 |
| SHAW CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 75 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 19,200 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,250 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,250 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,600 |
| ILL CENTRAL RR | Illinois | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 1,600 |
| BR SPRING CR | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 150 |
| SPANKER BR | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 475 |
| DOUGLAS CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 75 |
| SHOP CREEK TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 26,800 |
| GROVE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 50 |
| COAL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,150 |
| MISS RIV/FAU 9416 | Illinois | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 6,250 |
| HOG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 450 |
| POSSUM TAIL BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 375 |
| FLAT BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 350 |
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.