Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR OF LANES FK | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| BR BLACKWATER RVR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| BR BLACKWATER RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 45 |
| HOGLES CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| BOWEN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| WALNUT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 45 |
| WALNUT CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 45 |
| BR OF BOURBEUSE RV | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| STREAM | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| E BEE BR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 115 |
| CRANE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| BR OF WALNUT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 143 |
| PEA RIDGE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 925 |
| DRYWOOD CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| SPRING CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| LITTLE MEDICINE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| SQUAW CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| MID BR OF SQUAW CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| HONEY CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 45 |
| LITTLE MEDICINE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| SQUAW CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| LIT BOWEN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| TRIB OF KOCHS CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| TRIB OF GLAIZE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 2,000 |
| TRIB OF JOACHIM CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 500 |
| TANYARD BR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| TANYARD BR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| BR OF SAC RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| BR OF SAC RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 160 |
| BR WEAUBLEAU CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| BR OF LIT SAC RVR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BR OF LIT SAC RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BR OF LIT SAC RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| CREEK | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| FLAGSTAFF CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 65 |
| TRIB OF BIG DEER C | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| CREEK | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| LIT SAC RVR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 197 |
| S FABIUS RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| BR OF DRY FK CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| SAC RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 48 |
| CORRENDER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 400 |
| BR OF MERAMEC RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| TRIB OF RED OAK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| DRY FK CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| CREEK | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
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.