Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 3,368 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 3,368 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 3,368 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 3,368 |
| MASTER STREET | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 22,619 |
| TACONY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 20,406 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 8,914 |
| SEPTA;CHESTNUT HI. W.BR. | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 2,547 |
| AMTRAK (NE Corridor) | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 40,000 |
| TRIB. OF YOUGH. RIVER | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| TRIB TO BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| COAL RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| Abandoned Railroad | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | — |
| LUPHERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 500 |
| ROLLING GREEN RUN | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 500 |
| Trib. to Georges Creek | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| Back Creek | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 150 |
| Haynes Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| Beham Run | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| Miller Run | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| Spruce Run | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| Slate Creek | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| Beham Run | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| CONESTOGA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| LITTLE CONESTOGA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| TRIBUTARY TO MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| PUDDLE DUCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| ALEXANDER SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 600 |
| BUCKWHA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | — |
| UNT to Swatara Creek | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| Holtz Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| Holtz Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| Holtz Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| Eichelberger Spring | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| Trindle Spring Run | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| Trib to Conodoguinet | Pennsylvania | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 500 |
| Trib Trindle Spring Run | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| Trindle Spring Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 300 |
| Burd Run | Pennsylvania | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 500 |
| Yellow Breeches Creek | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 200 |
| Unkn Trib to Y Breeches | Pennsylvania | Good | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| MANVILLE MILL TRENCH | Rhode Island | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 7,800 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 606 |
| DRY CHOTEAU CREEK | South Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 60 |
| CK | South Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 35 |
| CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 25 |
| SPEARFISH CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| ROCK CK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 75 |
| CREEK | South Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 50 |
| ELK RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
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.