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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | - |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,500 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 10 |
| NEWTON BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 650 |
| JACKSON CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 15,800 |
| JACKSON CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 15,800 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,250 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 600 |
| LITTLE WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 2,100 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,000 |
| GRASSY CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,950 |
| CONRAIL RR | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 800 |
| PLOW HOLLOW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 550 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 825 |
| RR - METRA | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 6,650 |
| CSXT RR | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,250 |
| LICK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,400 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,400 |
| HURRICANE CK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,400 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,400 |
| ICGRR | Illinois | Good | 1943 | 83 | 725 |
| MISS RIVER HWY RR | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 17,300 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,400 |
| KILLJORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 150 |
| SHOP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 26,800 |
| Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 500 |
| RHEINHARDT SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 250 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 175 |
| BRANCH CEDAR CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 375 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 35 |
| FORKED CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1943 | 83 | 350 |
| CLEAR CREEK DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 25 |
| RR - BRC | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 31,000 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 50 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 33,125 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 2,050 |
| CROW CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 3,050 |
| LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 550 |
| HICKS HOLLOW CR | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 125 |
| LAKE FORK DRAIN DIT | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 25 |
| BEAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 50 |
| KANKAKEE RIVER MILL RACE | Illinois | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 10,650 |
| HACKEY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 1,550 |
| NO NAME CRK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 1,000 |
| BUCKHART CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 29,800 |
| KERTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| BNSF RR | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 75 |
| CC&P RR | Illinois | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 425 |
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.