Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 7,010 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,770 |
| LITTLE SUGAR CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 70 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,251 |
| BIG CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 40 |
| LITTLE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 120 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,300 |
| CHOATE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 90 |
| CHOATE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 90 |
| CHOATE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 90 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 90 |
| GAP CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 10 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 370 |
| CARSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 346 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 230 |
| BRADLEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 80 |
| WALKER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,183 |
| WHITEHORN SHORT CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,979 |
| HATCHIE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,629 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,411 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 5,411 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,572 |
| MUD CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,572 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,572 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,572 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,214 |
| TRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,150 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 7,746 |
| TRACE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 7,746 |
| YELLOW BANK BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 9,403 |
| HURRICANE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 9,403 |
| CULVERT BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 9,234 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,110 |
| NELSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,206 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,206 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,068 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 278 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 278 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,973 |
| FERGUSON BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 270 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,479 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,479 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,479 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,836 |
| ROBERTSON CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,836 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,836 |
| CUB CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,836 |
| SANDY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 13,896 |
| LITTLE SEQUATCHIE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,883 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 85 |
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.