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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 457 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| COYOTE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 26 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 160 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 15 |
| SOUTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1 |
| NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 20 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 270 |
| SAND CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| RED RIVER OF THE NORTH | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 320 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 5,600 |
| LAKE METIGOSHE | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 105 |
| CASS COUNTY DRAIN 13 | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| SPRING CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 85 |
| NO. BRANCH TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| LITTLE GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 90 |
| CEDER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| THIRTY MILE CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| THIRTY MILE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| CUT BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| BANK CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 25 |
| WINTERING RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| MID. BR. DOUGLAS CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 35 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 75 |
| HAILSTONE CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| MUSKRAT CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| BIG MUDDY CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 230 |
| DRAIN DITCH | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| COULEE | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 5 |
| EDMORE COULEE | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 190 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
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.