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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
STREAM Iowa Good 1950 76 847
PERRY CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,675
DRAINAGE Iowa Poor 1950 76 167
PLUM CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 5
DRY RUN CREEK Iowa Poor 1950 76 8,392
W FORK OF NODAWAY RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,090
NORTH CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,400
CEDAR RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 8,300
WAPSIPINICON RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 393
SILVER CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,180
PLUM CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,270
BOONE RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 3,797
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 462
MISSOURI RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,790
POLLY CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,970
STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 7,000
S.BR.CROOKED CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,147
CROOKED CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 499
ELK CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,414
DRAINAGE DITCH Iowa Fair 1950 76 1,836
SHELLROCK RIVER Iowa Poor 1950 76 1,868
STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 52
STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 40
STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 60
MIDDLE NODAWAY RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 82
MARVEL CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 60
STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 21
MIDDLE RIVER Iowa Poor 1950 76 30
MIDDLE RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 30
MIDDLE RIVER Iowa Poor 1950 76 15
GRAND RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 34
GRAND RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 34
GRAND RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 45
STREAM Iowa Poor 1950 76 20
KIRKENDALL CREEK Iowa Poor 1950 76 73
CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 21
CREEK Iowa Poor 1950 76 5
TRIB TO INDIAN CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 11
TRIB DES MOINES RIVER Iowa Fair 1950 76 30
SMALL STREAM Iowa Poor 1950 76 21
FIELD STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 60
FIELD STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 20
CROOKED CREEK Iowa Poor 1950 76 29
MIDDLE BR WAPSINONOC CR Iowa Poor 1950 76 26
STREAM Iowa Poor 1950 76 71
CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 39
DRY HOLLOW Iowa Fair 1950 76 35
ELK CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 29
SMALL STREAM Iowa Fair 1950 76 358
WILLOW CREEK Iowa Fair 1950 76 5

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.