Historic Bridges in Connecticut
860 bridges built before 1951 in Connecticut still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 860 bridges in Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR 598 WHITEHEAD HIGHWAY | Connecticut | Fair | 1832 | 194 | 12,900 |
| HOUSATONIC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 1,100 |
| HOUSATONIC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1842 | 184 | 400 |
| RIPPOWAM RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1847 | 179 | 5,700 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 21,900 |
| WHETSTONE BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1850 | 176 | 110 |
| MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Good | 1850 | 176 | 994 |
| WEPAWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1855 | 171 | 34,600 |
| NORWALK RIVER | Connecticut | Good | 1860 | 166 | 13,800 |
| NONEWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Good | 1860 | 166 | 394 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1860 | 166 | 1,400 |
| WILLIMANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1868 | 158 | 8,300 |
| SAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Poor | 1870 | 156 | 12,400 |
| MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1870 | 156 | 4,800 |
| TEN MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1870 | 156 | 500 |
| MIDDLE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1870 | 156 | 600 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1871 | 155 | 19,700 |
| PORTER BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1871 | 155 | 3,600 |
| HARBOR BROOK | Connecticut | Poor | 1871 | 155 | 6,186 |
| SCANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1880 | 146 | 5,200 |
| FARMINGTON CANAL GREENWA | Connecticut | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 4,400 |
| TANKERHOOSEN RIVER | Connecticut | Good | 1885 | 141 | 21 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1887 | 139 | 350 |
| BYRAM RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1888 | 138 | 14,570 |
| WEPAWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1889 | 137 | 14,300 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1890 | 136 | 3,500 |
| WINTERGREEN BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1890 | 136 | 2,800 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1891 | 135 | 3,500 |
| HARBOR BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1892 | 134 | 16,744 |
| METRO-NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1892 | 134 | 9,700 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1892 | 134 | 5,900 |
| METRO-NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1893 | 133 | 18,900 |
| METRO NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Good | 1893 | 133 | 11,803 |
| HORSENECK BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1894 | 132 | 12,240 |
| HARBOR BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1895 | 131 | 2,870 |
| FARMINGTON RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1895 | 131 | 235 |
| METRO-NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Good | 1895 | 131 | 7,900 |
| AMTRAK RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1899 | 127 | 5,300 |
| PADANARAM BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1899 | 127 | 10,334 |
| SILVERMINE RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1899 | 127 | 1,415 |
| METRO NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 7,100 |
| METRO NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 9,300 |
| FARM RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 5,500 |
| WILLIMANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,800 |
| METRO NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 9,000 |
| METRO-NORTH RAILROAD | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 14,800 |
| HARBOR BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 2,700 |
| WHARTON BROOK | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 4,525 |
| FARMINGTON CANAL GREENWA | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 4,200 |
| QUINNIPIAC RIVER | Connecticut | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 2,400 |
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.