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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,350 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,180 |
| SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,180 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,440 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,460 |
| S FORK IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 894 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,530 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 19,000 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 699 |
| LITTLE CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,330 |
| FOURMILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,800 |
| FOURMILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5,200 |
| SMALL NATURAL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,139 |
| SMALL NATURAL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,650 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,650 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,414 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,414 |
| MIDDLE NODAWAY RIVER BR | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| NODAWAY RIVER WEST FORK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| W FORK NODAWAY RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 89 |
| BRANCH OF NODAWAY RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 21 |
| SPRING CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 49 |
| VIRDEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 29 |
| TRIB QUARTER SECTION RUN | Iowa | Good | 1949 | 77 | 39 |
| IOWAY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 91 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 452 |
| NODAWAY RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| WEST CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 560 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 403 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1949 | 77 | 490 |
| W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 35 |
| BIG CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 180 |
| DICKENSON BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 62 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 97 |
| HONEY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 363 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| MIDDLE FORK CATFISH CRK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,632 |
| STOE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 44 |
| COULEE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 97 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 128 |
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.