Historic Bridges in Colorado

857 bridges built before 1951 in Colorado still in service today.

Bridges Built Before 1951

The United States has 857 bridges in Colorado 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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
COTTONWOOD CREEK Colorado Fair 1887 139 6,580
RIO GRANDE RIVER Colorado Poor 1892 134 37
EAST FORK EIGHT MILE CRK Colorado Poor 1894 132 25
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE BLVD Colorado Good 1901 125 435
Misc Drainage Basin Colorado Good 1901 125 6,085
Local Drainage Colorado Poor 1901 125 309
Capitol Creek Colorado Fair 1901 125 2
SHOOKS RUN Colorado Poor 1902 124 18,034
BESSEMER DITCH Colorado Fair 1903 123 992
TEXAS CREEK Colorado Fair 1906 120 1,800
FOUNTAIN CREEK Colorado Fair 1906 120 1,195
ARKANSAS RIVER Colorado Fair 1906 120 2,325
ARKANSAS RIVER Colorado Poor 1907 119 41
ARKANSAS RIVER Colorado Poor 1908 118
OAK CREEK Colorado Fair 1908 118 139
ARKANSAS RIVER Colorado Fair 1910 116
HUERFANO RIVER Colorado Fair 1910 116 13
ROAD CANYON CREEK Colorado Fair 1910 116 18
ANIMAS RIVER Colorado Fair 1910 116 28,000
LARIMER CO CANAL Colorado Fair 1911 115 7,900
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER Colorado Fair 1911 115 42,000
PIEDRA RIVER Colorado Fair 1913 113 927
FOUNTAIN CREEK Colorado Poor 1915 111 283
SHOOKS RUN Colorado Fair 1915 111 4,940
SHOOKS RUN Colorado Fair 1915 111 16,577
ANDERSON ARROYO Colorado Fair 1915 111 2,767
COAL CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 2,092
SOUTH CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 72
SQUIRREL CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 137
SOUTH CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 36
GRANEROS CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 21
SQUIRREL CREEK Colorado Fair 1916 110 49
Middle Boulder Creek Colorado Fair 1917 109 70
Middle Boulder Creek Colorado Fair 1917 109 66
COTTONWOOD CREEK Colorado Fair 1917 109 21
Greeley Loveland Canal Colorado Fair 1917 109 1,010
COAL CREEK Colorado Fair 1918 108 611
COAL CREEK Colorado Fair 1918 108 548
BIG CREEK Colorado Fair 1918 108 1,600
APISHAPA RIVER Colorado Fair 1918 108 22
EAST BIJOU CREEK Colorado Poor 1919 107 14
Larimer Co. Canal No. 2 Colorado Fair 1920 106 12,947
FURNESS ARROYO Colorado Fair 1920 106 1
Harmony No. 2 Canal Colorado Fair 1920 106 2
COAL CREEK Colorado Fair 1921 105 6,600
HUERFANO RIVER Colorado Fair 1921 105 4,600
Greeley Loveland Canal Colorado Fair 1921 105 2,108
Greeley Loveland Canal Colorado Poor 1922 104 473
Greeley Loveland Canal Colorado Fair 1922 104 1,989
Cottonwood Creek Colorado Fair 1922 104

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.