Historic Bridges in South Dakota
1,118 bridges built before 1951 in South Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,118 bridges in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLOUGH WATERWAY CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 185 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 31 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 55 |
| MUD CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 55 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | South Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 169 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 91 |
| LANCE CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 17 |
| MEDICINE KNOLL CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 150 |
| DOG EAR CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 55 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| CAMP CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 31 |
| EAST BRULE CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 45 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 183 |
| MARNE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| CLAY CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 50 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 16 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 60 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 640 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 60 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 52 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 137 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 25 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 271 |
| SAND CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 56 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 29 |
| SHUE CREEK | South Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 56 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 11 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 27 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 37 |
| FOOT CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 35 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 98 |
| N. BRANCH SPUR CK | South Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| CK | South Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| HAY CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 21 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 39 |
| DIRT LODGE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 30 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 70 |
| FALL RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 41 |
| S FORK SNAKE CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 50 |
| INDIAN RV | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 52 |
| CK | South Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 36 |
| PEARL CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 43 |
| LITTLE TURTLE CK | South Dakota | Good | 1932 | 94 | 43 |
| SAND CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 37 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 220 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 220 |
| MEDICINE CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 60 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 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.