Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MINNEHAHA CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 829 |
| BUNKER HILL CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 65 |
| WELLS CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 485 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 610 |
| PINE ISLAND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 610 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 30 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 305 |
| SPRING CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 30 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 57 |
| BELLE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| COLD CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 34 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 71 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 16 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 660 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 660 |
| CHAMPEPADAN CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 250 |
| N BR YELLOW MEDICINE R | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 443 |
| BEVENS CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 829 |
| TRIB SPLIT ROCK CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 205 |
| RIPPLE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 150 |
| S BR ROOT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 41 |
| BITTER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,000 |
| CHESTER CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,274 |
| MARSH RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 23 |
| RABBIT RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 14 |
| BUTTERFIELD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 35 |
| RICE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 120 |
| TISCHERS CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 225 |
| STONY RUN CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,639 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 1,935 |
| RIPPLE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 5,627 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 2,400 |
| DITCH-LAKE ELYSIAN OUTLE | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,750 |
| COAL MINE CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 2,400 |
| Pine Creek | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,219 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,600 |
| MINNESOTA RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 5,548 |
| CLEARWATER RIVER (DAM) | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 275 |
| ROSE CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 20 |
| ROSE CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 45 |
| REDWOOD RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 8,800 |
| TEMPERANCE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,000 |
| POPLAR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,650 |
| FLINT CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,495 |
| LITTLE CHIPPEWA RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 2,000 |
| WUDRI CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1931 | 95 | 5,600 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,968 |
| CANFIELD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,700 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,700 |
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.