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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEAR CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 160 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 730 |
| THOMPSON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 962 |
| GARRETT BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 962 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,400 |
| KNOB CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 788 |
| ROMANTOWN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 788 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 555 |
| NEGRO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 76 |
| FOUNTAIN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 190 |
| LYTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| LITTLE BIGBY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 350 |
| AENON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,719 |
| TERRELL BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,719 |
| CARTERS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,013 |
| SNOW CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 922 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,278 |
| FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,435 |
| LITTLE BARTONS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 482 |
| SPRING BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 640 |
| LITTLE W. FORK RED RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40,763 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 814 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 476 |
| ROBERTS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 420 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,193 |
| PILES BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 190 |
| LITTLE INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| POPLAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| BLUEGRASS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 778 |
| BACKWATERS OF WATTS BAR | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 806 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,167 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 738 |
| OXIER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,798 |
| LADD CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 6,008 |
| YOUNG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,008 |
| CANEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11,429 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,030 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,266 |
| SANTEE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,266 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,266 |
| BUZZARD CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 812 |
| SOUTH FORK RED RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 190 |
| SOUTH FORK RED RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 290 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,120 |
| CARR CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 880 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 339 |
| SULPHUR FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5,578 |
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.