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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| TRIB VERMILLION R | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| SALT CK TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 350 |
| TRIB COON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 1,150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 75 |
| CHICAGO + N W R R | Illinois | Good | 1945 | 81 | 2,400 |
| BR OF PRESTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 800 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 200 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 225 |
| E.Brnch Panther Crk | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 25 |
| MILL CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 350 |
| I- 94 BISHOP FORD | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 3,275 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 6,750 |
| FLAG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 6,300 |
| BUTTERFIELD CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 19,200 |
| SOMONAUK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,550 |
| E.BRANCH DU PAGE RV | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 19,200 |
| W BRANCH DU PAGE RV | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,600 |
| VANDALIA RR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 6,850 |
| BARKER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 75 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 625 |
| Dayton Hollow Creek | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 500 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 4,100 |
| MAIN DITCH CH 14 AMB | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 550 |
| GREEN RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 150 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 3,100 |
| MACKINAW RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 950 |
| CNTRYCLB BR SUGAR CR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 6,400 |
| CNTRYCLB BR SUGAR CR | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 125 |
| CNTRYCLB BR SUGAR CR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 150 |
| CNTRYCLB BR SUGAR CR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 75 |
| US ROUTE 67 | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 2,750 |
| SKILLET FORK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,000 |
| PIATT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 650 |
| TR 182A/KCS RR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 2,400 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 300 |
| KASKASKIA RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 3,600 |
| KASKASKIA OVERFLOW | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 3,600 |
| PECATONICA RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 4,150 |
| LITTLE MACKINAW RI | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 800 |
| LITTLE MACKINAW RIVE | Illinois | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 10 |
| UNION PACIFIC RR | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,550 |
| DRY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 150 |
| SNAG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| OWL CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 1,100 |
| BRANCH E BUREAU CREE | Illinois | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| INDIAN RUN | Illinois | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 600 |
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.