Historic Bridges in Michigan
1,528 bridges built before 1951 in Michigan still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,528 bridges in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEDAR HEDGE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 10,386 |
| TONAWANDA CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 15,029 |
| PINE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 770 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 20 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 110 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 440 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 100 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 25 |
| COLUMBIA DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 25 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 462 |
| SANDSTONE CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,042 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 27,197 |
| TYLER CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 688 |
| PLASTER CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 20,993 |
| BEAR CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 150 |
| BEAR CREEK | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 150 |
| CARP RIVER | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 200 |
| COON CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 4,440 |
| PESHEKEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 188 |
| PESHEKEE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 188 |
| W BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,557 |
| N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,357 |
| N BR CHIPPEWA RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,294 |
| LONG LAKE | Michigan | Good | 1927 | 99 | 165 |
| BIG SALT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 4,490 |
| BIG SALT RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 182 |
| RAISIN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 21,209 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 380 |
| MASON RUN DRAIN | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 5,435 |
| THUNDER BAY RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 4,572 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,000 |
| GREENMAN CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 3,600 |
| SUGARCREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 100 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 73 |
| SWAN CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 8,284 |
| UPPER ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 11,655 |
| UPPER ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 14,800 |
| JOY ROAD | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 5,416 |
| UPPER ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 14,610 |
| SILVER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 4,529 |
| MONGUAGON CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 15,502 |
| ROUGE RIVER | Michigan | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 11,218 |
| W BR SUCKER RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 406 |
| KAWKAWLIN RIVER | Michigan | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,404 |
| HOG CREEK DRAIN #40 | Michigan | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 830 |
| BAD CREEK | Michigan | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,115 |
| STONY CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 2,377 |
| MAPLE RIVER BRANCH | Michigan | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,083 |
| VERMILION CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 152 |
| KLOECKNER CREEK | Michigan | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 230 |
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.