Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WERNERS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 5 |
| DUCK CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1922 | 104 | 5 |
| DOWAGIAC RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 306 |
| HOLDEN DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 9,585 |
| STURGEON RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 327 |
| BATTLE CREEK RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 200 |
| S BR LITTLE SUGAR RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1923 | 103 | 5,963 |
| N BR CEDAR RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,596 |
| JACKSON CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 34 |
| E BRANCH PINNEBOG RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 820 |
| TUPPER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 123 |
| OLSON CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 10,377 |
| ORE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 730 |
| VENTRE DE BEUF | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 7,912 |
| BRANCH OF SAND CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 3,060 |
| SAND CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 840 |
| CROCKERY CREEK TRIBUTARY | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 3,040 |
| CROCKERY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 3,040 |
| PINE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 115 |
| ELIZABETH PK CANAL | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 5,140 |
| DEQUINDRE CUT GREENWAY | Michigan | Good | 1923 | 103 | 24,127 |
| DEQUINDRE CUT GREENWAY | Michigan | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 15,014 |
| SWAN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 1,077 |
| ROCK RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 17 |
| QUANICASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 96 |
| BETSIE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,712 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 179 |
| PIPESTONE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 4 |
| DOWAGIAC CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,034 |
| MUD CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 161 |
| SPAULDING EXTENSION | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 264 |
| SPAULDING EXTENSION | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 160 |
| LOST CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 86 |
| WIEBER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 86 |
| HAYWORTH CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 180 |
| MAPLE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 86 |
| MORRIS DRAIN | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 47 |
| VERMILION CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 75 |
| SHIAWASSEE RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1924 | 102 | 1,618 |
| SWARTZ CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | — |
| RED CEDAR RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 13,900 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1924 | 102 | 3,815 |
| PAINT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,080 |
| BRULE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3 |
| HEMLOCK RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 103 |
| ROGUE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,797 |
| BALDWIN RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 140 |
| PERE MARQUETTE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 6,828 |
| OTTER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 7,446 |
| BLACK CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 13,386 |
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.