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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CACHE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,950 |
| GREEN RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 325 |
| Branch Bureau Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 75 |
| Kampsville CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 850 |
| SCHAAD DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 600 |
| PRAIRE CREEK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 750 |
| BRANCH OF BEAVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 375 |
| LOST CREEK BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 175 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 225 |
| IL 50 (CICERO AVE) | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 133,700 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 22,500 |
| STONY CR | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 16,700 |
| I- 94 US41 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 6,750 |
| I- 94 BISHOP FORD | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 29,200 |
| I- 94 BISHOP FORD | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 13,450 |
| MIDLOTHIAN CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 850 |
| TINLEY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 15,400 |
| S BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 15,800 |
| TRIMBLE RUN | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 525 |
| SCATTERING FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,000 |
| FR-1187/CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,350 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 22,700 |
| RACCOON CK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 475 |
| DRAIN DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,000 |
| DRAIN DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,000 |
| WAUPECON CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 175 |
| MUD CR. TRIBUTARY | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,500 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 75 |
| MUD CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| TRIB-PILES FORK CRK. | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 25,500 |
| CACHE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 550 |
| GRANARY CR | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 675 |
| AUX SABLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 11,500 |
| FOX RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,300 |
| FELKY SLOUGH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 25 |
| BAKER RUN | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 25 |
| Trib. Smith Branch | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | - |
| KICKAPOO CK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 400 |
| BOONE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,650 |
| SUGAR CK | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 3,550 |
| PAINTROCK CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 725 |
| BARRVILLE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 4,950 |
| QUIVER DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 550 |
| LITTLE CAMP CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 75 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,900 |
| BAY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,950 |
| BUCK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 25 |
| BUCK BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| BUCK BRANCH TRIBUTAR | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
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.