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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAINTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 45 |
| DEVIL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 250 |
| BEAR CR | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 196 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 45 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 26 |
| JIM CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 668 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 45 |
| COAL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 80 |
| BLUFF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| TURKEY RUN | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| SPRING CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 71 |
| SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,300 |
| SOLDIER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 40 |
| MOFFAT BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 40 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 73 |
| SWEETLAND CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 380 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 290 |
| LITTLE OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 21 |
| TARKIO RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 34 |
| DD 41 | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 46 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 60 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 15 |
| BULL RUN | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 30 |
| WESTFIELD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| MINK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 34 |
| BROKEN KETTLE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| UP RAILROAD | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 406 |
| SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 71 |
| GRAYBILL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 15 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 40 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 30 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 29 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 40 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1948 | 78 | 30 |
| TWELVE MILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 20 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 100 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 59 |
| SIDE DITCH BRIDGE | Iowa | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,400 |
| RAILROAD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,279 |
| BOYER RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 121 |
| LITTLE ROCK RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,167 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,347 |
| PLUM CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 275 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 232 |
| BLACK HAWK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,635 |
| MARROWBONE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 558 |
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.