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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,150 |
| ROCKCASTLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,450 |
| CALFKILLER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 225 |
| N CHANNEL ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10,000 |
| C CHANNEL ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10,000 |
| S CHANNEL ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10,000 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 3,600 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 875 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 850 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 6,100 |
| TRIB-BATTLEFORD CR | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 1,600 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 675 |
| MUD RUN | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 275 |
| ILLINOIS RIVER & T&P RR | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 30,000 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 600 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 10 |
| LITTLE LICK CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 2,800 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,550 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,550 |
| LITTLE VERMILION RIV | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 1,550 |
| ELLISON CR | Illinois | Good | 1948 | 78 | 100 |
| SKILLET FORK CR | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 900 |
| ELM RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 800 |
| N BR ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,700 |
| S BR ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 7,700 |
| ROCK RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,000 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,400 |
| SUMNER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 125 |
| SUMNER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 125 |
| PANTHER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 4,050 |
| WELLS FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 450 |
| W. BUREAU CR. | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 125 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| BNSF RR | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,550 |
| OAK BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| SKOKIE RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 118,200 |
| GOLF RD | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 125,400 |
| FOREST GLEN AVE | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 142,400 |
| N BR CHICAGO RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 142,400 |
| RR - IHB | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 178,600 |
| LITTLE CAL RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 89,300 |
| LITTLE CAL RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 89,300 |
| RR - IHB & CSXT | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 178,600 |
| DOLTON AVE | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 166,200 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 7,300 |
| I- 94 US41 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 28,400 |
| I- 94 US41 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5,100 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 13,000 |
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.