Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North Dakota 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 MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 830 |
| CEDAR CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| FLAT CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| CREEK BED | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 25 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 40 |
| COLE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 570 |
| DOG TOOTH CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| SPRING CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| DAYTON CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 24 |
| MID. BR. DOUGLAS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| DOUGLAS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 100 |
| HEART BUTTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 24 |
| MUSKRAT CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 24 |
| SOUTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5 |
| BRANCH ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| NELSON DRAIN NO. 28 | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 10 |
| IRRIGATION DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20 |
| 4TH AVE BNRR SOURIS R. | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 9,000 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,700 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,700 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 2,350 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 420 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1936 | 90 | 775 |
| BNRR SEP. | North Dakota | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 450 |
| COUNTY DRAIN 23 | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 260 |
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 5 |
| BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 5 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 25 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 5 |
| BIG MUDDY CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 100 |
| MUSKRAT CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 100 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 10 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 34 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 20 |
| NORTH BRANCH ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 595 |
| ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 310 |
| ELM RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 130 |
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.