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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUD CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| LITTLE GALUM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| GALUM CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| TRIB TO BONNIE CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| MOORES BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| BOARD TREE BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| BUCK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| BUCK BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| BUCK BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| BROWN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| HADLEY CR TRIBUTARY | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| HORTON CR TRIBUTARY | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| BOYD DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| HADLEY CR TRIBUTARY | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| UNNAMED STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| ALL FORKS CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 350 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| FANCY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 175 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| LITTLE SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 1,050 |
| HENKLE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| NO FORK CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| HARRIS BRNCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| STONY CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| BN RR | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| BN RR | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| LAKE FORK TRIB | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| SPOON RIVER | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| TRIB OF INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 6,150 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 725 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 375 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| RR CITY PARK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 225 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| YANKEE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| OLIVE BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
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.