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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 400 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| PIKE CR DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| BR OF BEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BEAVER CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| BR S FK BLACKWATER | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 110 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| BR OF LITTLE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 215 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| BR OF POMME DE TER | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 500 |
| BR OF POMME DE TER | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 500 |
| S FK BLACKWATER RV | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 93 |
| WALNUT CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| BR TO SALT CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| BR OF SPRING CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| SPRING CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| CREEK | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| S FK BLACKWATER RV | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 46 |
| BR S FK BLACKWATER | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| CAMP CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 11 |
| FISH CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| BR S FK BLACKWATER | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 93 |
| TRIB OF BRUSH CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| BRUSH CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| N MUD CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| W BR OF LOST CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| W BR OF LOST CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 60 |
| TRIB OF PERUQUE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 3,320 |
| COON CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 110 |
| TRIB OF JOACHIM CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 194 |
| E FK CRAWFORD CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 99 |
| BR OF SLAGLE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| SLAGLE CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| TRIB OF MCMULLIN B | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 650 |
| FINLEY RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,500 |
| TOWN BR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 350 |
| E PIN OAK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 81 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 4 |
| SALINE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 300 |
| BR OF PANTHER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| HOCUM HOLLOW CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 400 |
| BR OF PIPER CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| SHOAL CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| CLEAR CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| BR OF PIPER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| TRIB OF PLATTIN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 109 |
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.