Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 280 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 460 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,496 |
| MURFREES FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| CANEY FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 250 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 610 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 920 |
| WEST FORK OF SPRING CR | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 220 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,376 |
| FLAT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 821 |
| SPARKS BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 960 |
| POORHOUSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,886 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,886 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 7,847 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 7,847 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 14,885 |
| DRY FORK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 109 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 330 |
| DRY FORK BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 320 |
| CLENDENON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 120 |
| JENNINGS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 90 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| PURTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 250 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 604 |
| BARTONS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 604 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,672 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 900 |
| BIG CANEY BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| YOUNGS BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 360 |
| SPRING BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 360 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,107 |
| SUGGS CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 7,217 |
| NORTH FORK SUGGS CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,647 |
| WEST FORK SPRING CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,737 |
| PATTON HOLLOW BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,512 |
| TARVER BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 8,355 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,415 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,415 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,384 |
| COUNTY ROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 960 |
| COUNTY ROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 960 |
| S HOLSTON DAM SPILLWAY | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| S HOLSTON DAM TAILRACE | Tennessee | Good | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| BRADLEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,251 |
| ROWLAND CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,235 |
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.