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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.