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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDDLE WILLOW CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| SHANE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| ELK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 59 |
| LONG CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| FLINT RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| DOLBEE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| EAST FORK CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| SM CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 769 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 39 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 571 |
| HUNTER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 471 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 39 |
| ALEXANDER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 69 |
| N BR VOLGA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| VOLGA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 471 |
| BASS CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1950 | 76 | 49 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH NO 13 | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| PLUM CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 294 |
| RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 131 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| HOG CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 417 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 79 |
| ALLEN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 15 |
| NORTH BIG CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| CRANE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 69 |
| LITTLE WAPSIPINICON | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| LITTLE WAPSIPINICAN RVR | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 88 |
| UPPER IOWA | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 393 |
| UPPER IOWA | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 393 |
| UPPER IOWA | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 39 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| ENGLISH RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 160 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 49 |
| PUMPKIN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Good | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| MAQUOKETA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 330 |
| PLEASANT CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 71 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| DUCK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| ELK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| CALHOUN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| BURR OAK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 35 |
| EAST BRANCH LICK CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
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.