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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| S. FORK LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| S. FORK LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 150 |
| PANTHER CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| RR - UP ? | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 62,700 |
| RR - UP ? | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 62,700 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 18,300 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30,000 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6,900 |
| US 41 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30,000 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 22,900 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,350 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6,750 |
| I- 94 EDENS | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 34,900 |
| RR - UP (NORTH) | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 61,950 |
| LAKE GEORGE OVERFLOW | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9,500 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,050 |
| LAKE SHORE DRIVE | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,500 |
| Silver Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 4,000 |
| S FK RACCOON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| EMBARRAS RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| Mill Road (MS- 5990) | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| LINCOLN ST(MS 1230) | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,150 |
| LONG POINT CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 900 |
| AFTON LATERAL | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| BRANCH OF OWENS CR | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| S BR KISHWAUKEE RV | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| S BRANCH CLEAR CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| TRIB BUTTER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 650 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,550 |
| BECKS CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1950 | 76 | 525 |
| HOG CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| LITTLE MOCCASIN CR | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| SAND CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 350 |
| CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 350 |
| NETTLE CR | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 325 |
| BRANCH OF SPRING CR. | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| BRANCH OF SPRING CR. | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| EDWARDS R. TRIB. | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 350 |
| MUDDY PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| MUDDY PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| TRIB MUDDY PLUM | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| BR EAST PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| BR OF PLUM RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 650 |
| PIKE CR | Illinois | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
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.