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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLIVE BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| GLENBURN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| GRAPE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| JORDAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| GRAPE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 375 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| GIMLET BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| N FORK VERMILION RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| GRAPE CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 125 |
| Cedar Creek | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| SLUG RUN | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| MID HEND CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| CEDAR CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| ELLISON CR | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| CEDAR CR | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| OLD TOM CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| SUNNYLAND DRAIN | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 9,050 |
| JACKSON BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| GRANT CREEK CUTOFF | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| JACKSON CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 775 |
| JACKSON CR | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 775 |
| FORKED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| UNION DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15,700 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| SPRING CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 6,750 |
| S.BR FORKED CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 175 |
| ROCK CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| S. BR ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| FORKED CR | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,900 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| BANSTON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 325 |
| BNRR | Illinois | Good | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| BRANCH OF SHOAL CR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| BRANCH OF BEAVER CR | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| TRIB INDIAN CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| DORRIS CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| CONRAIL RR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| E. BUREAU CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| HOWELL HOLLOW CRK BR | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 700 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| WEST POINT CR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| TRIB W POINT CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| BRANCH SUGAR CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 250 |
| SUGAR CREEK BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
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.