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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| MIDDLE TARKIO RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| NISHNABOTNA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 477 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| PERRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,028 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| MINK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| BULL RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| SECOND CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 45 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 45 |
| DEEP RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| LOTTS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 1,060 |
| ELK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 29 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 80 |
| KEIGLEY BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| BRANCH IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 39 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| MIDDLE 102 RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH 102 RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| SOUTH WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 89 |
| BRANCH WEST CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 21 |
| S RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 807 |
| SHORT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 134 |
| BR MIDDLE RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 62 |
| NORTH RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 89 |
| WEST FORK CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| N BUFFALO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| N BUFFALO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| MUCHAKINOCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 180 |
| BLACKHAWK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 4,004 |
| BLACKHAWK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,351 |
| RIO GRANDE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 232 |
| WOLF CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 779 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 260 |
| LOTTS CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 170 |
| BEER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 57 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 392 |
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.