Historic Bridges in Nebraska
3,270 bridges built before 1951 in Nebraska still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,270 bridges in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1888 | 138 | 10 |
| S CH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1891 | 135 | 15 |
| LITTLE BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1893 | 133 | 45 |
| BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1897 | 129 | 15 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1899 | 127 | 2 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| SPRING CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| HONEY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| BIG CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| NORTH LOUP RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 5 |
| FLOOD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 15 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1903 | 123 | 5 |
| LIME CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 30 |
| MITCHELL CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 15 |
| CUB CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 5 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 10 |
| WHISKEY RUN | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 10 |
| LOOKING GLASS CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 5 |
| UNION CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 20 |
| NORTH OMAHA CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 10 |
| NORTH OMAHA CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1905 | 121 | 10 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1906 | 120 | 100 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1906 | 120 | 20 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 50 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Good | 1908 | 118 | 100 |
| W FK BIG BLUE RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1908 | 118 | 45 |
| INTERSTATE CANAL | Nebraska | Fair | 1908 | 118 | 10 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 5 |
| NIOBRARA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 10 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 700 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 18,700 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1909 | 117 | 150 |
| IVES CREEK | Nebraska | Good | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| E FK MAPLE CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 45 |
| ELK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 30 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| BLOODY RUN | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| DEER CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| S FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| N FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 15 |
| WILSON CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| ROCK CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| N FK ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
| DRY CREEK | Nebraska | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 25 |
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.