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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| BR.WALNUT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| BR RAPID CR | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 130 |
| BR RAPID CR | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 490 |
| OVERFLOW | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 393 |
| MINERAL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| LAMALEES CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 650 |
| SM STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 490 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 47 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Good | 1950 | 76 | 690 |
| BR OF LITTLE WHITEBREAST | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| LITTLE ROCK RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| WATERWAY | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 41 |
| OLIVE BRANCH CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| N COAL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| M BR BUCKLEY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| SOUTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| SNIPE CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 16 |
| NORTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| ROCK CR | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| ROCK CR | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| MINERVA CR | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| HUNTER BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 15 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 51 |
| DEER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 59 |
| BIG CEDAR RIVER | Iowa | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,021 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| LOCAL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| MOFFAT BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| LITTLE TARKIO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 320 |
| WATERMAN CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 41 |
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.