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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HENRY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 72 |
| ROETZEL CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 15 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| LITTLE OCHEYEDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 21 |
| MUD CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| DD | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| RATHBURN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| CAMP CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 467 |
| GRAYBILL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 29 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 29 |
| IAIS RR | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 15 |
| BIG BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| BEAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| W FORK GRAND RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| BOYER RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 489 |
| BUCK CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | - |
| DUTCH BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 72 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 72 |
| LITTLE SILVER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 131 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| LONG BRANCH CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 62 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| WEST BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| ROCK RIVER OVERFLOW | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,963 |
| BALLARD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 110 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 34 |
| DYE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| EAST BR INDIAN CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| BRANCH OF IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| TROUBLESOME CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 33 |
| BRANCH IOWA RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 39 |
| TWELVE MILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 29 |
| TWELVE MILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| PLATTE BRANCH | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11 |
| EAST RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| TRIB DES MOINES RIVER | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 270 |
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.