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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 9,150 |
| BNRR | North Dakota | Good | 1937 | 89 | 570 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 530 |
| PHILBRICK CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1937 | 89 | 920 |
| DUCK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| TIMBER CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| WATERWAY LAKE | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| CREEK BED | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| SOUTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| NORTH BRANCH PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| ANDREWS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| SNAKE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| THIRTY MILE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| LITTLE DEEP CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 30 |
| MID. BR. DOUGLAS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| COUNTY DRAIN NO. 3 | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| COUNTY DRAIN NO. 3 | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 37 |
| COUNTY DRAIN | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| INTERMITTENT STREAM | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 28 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| MAPLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| MID. BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 5 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 24 |
| PAINTED WOODS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,730 |
| US 81/10TH STREET | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 24,100 |
| DAYTON CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 400 |
| ANTLER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 8 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| WILLOW CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| RUSH RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 5 |
| Beaver Creek | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| BONEHILL CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 24 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 24 |
| BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 5 |
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.