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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLES CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| QUEENS LAKE BR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 325 |
| DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 3,200 |
| SEMINARY CK | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 175 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| STREAM | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| PROUGH BRANCH | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| BIRCH CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| BR OF EDWARDS RIVER | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| LITTLE PIASA CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 475 |
| WEST FORK APPLE RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| E FORK GALENA RIV | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| WOLF CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| S FORK APPLE RIV | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| CN RR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| GREEN RV DRAINAGE DI | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| THREE MILE BRANCH | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| TRIB BEECH CR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| MUD CREEK | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| PIASA CR. | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| W Trib to Sugar Crk | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 5,300 |
| TRIB TO SILVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 175 |
| SILVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| TRIB TO SILVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| TRIB TO SILVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| SILVER LAKE FORK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| TR1B TO SILVER CK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| CONRAIL RR | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 225 |
| TRIB TO LITTLE SILVR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| SILVER CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | — |
| PENN CENTRAL RR | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 350 |
| B&N RR | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 20 |
| PLUM CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| ROCK CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| MILL CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| MODOC CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 1,600 |
| BR COPPERAS CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| LIVELY CREEK | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 675 |
| DOZA CREEK SOUTH | Illinois | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 175 |
| GOOSE LAKE Ditch | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 850 |
| HARDING DITCH | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| KINNEY BRANCH | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| BR. RICHLAND CREEK | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| CN RR | Illinois | Good | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| BR ELKHORN CR | Illinois | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 250 |
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.