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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
BR OF YELLOW CREEK Illinois Fair 1950 76 100
STREAM Illinois Fair 1950 76 75
N FORK VERMILION RIV Illinois Fair 1950 76 12,500
US 150(FAP 729) Illinois Fair 1950 76 1,050
STONY CREEK Illinois Fair 1950 76 7,150
BR COON CR Illinois Good 1950 76 25
STREAM Illinois Fair 1950 76 800
BR OF CATTAIL CR Illinois Fair 1950 76 850
W.B.DESPLAINES RIVER Illinois Fair 1950 76 7,100
W.B.DESPLAINES RIVER Illinois Fair 1950 76 7,100
E.B.DESPLAINES RIVER Illinois Fair 1950 76 7,100
E.B.DESPLAINES RIVER Illinois Fair 1950 76 7,100
MADIGAN CREEK Illinois Good 1950 76 225
UNNAMED CREEK Illinois Fair 1950 76 1,200
TRIB W BR PANTHER CR Illinois Fair 1950 76 750

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.