Historic Bridges in North Dakota
685 bridges built before 1951 in North Dakota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 685 bridges in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 20 |
| TEPEE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| Creek | North Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| Creek | North Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 10 |
| Creek | North Dakota | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 5 |
| JAMESTOWN RESERVOIR | North Dakota | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 135 |
| SOURIS RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1902 | 124 | 25 |
| MOUSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1902 | 124 | 5 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1904 | 122 | 50 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1904 | 122 | 5 |
| MOUSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1906 | 120 | 25 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 5 |
| TONGUE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 397 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 24 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1908 | 118 | 18 |
| MOUSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 25 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 30 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 85 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 20 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| HEART RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 50 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1910 | 116 | 5 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 15 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 24 |
| CANNONBALL RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 50 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 20 |
| GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 20 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1912 | 114 | 10 |
| TURTLE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 40 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1913 | 113 | 5 |
| BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 5 |
| APPLE CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 2,900 |
| S BRANCH BEAVER CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 24 |
| WILD RICE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| PIPESTEM CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 1 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 15 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 5 |
| LITTLE MUDDY RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| CHANTA PETA CREEK | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 24 |
| SHEYENNE RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 24 |
| GOOSE RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 24 |
| JAMES RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 25 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 27 |
| PARK RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 10 |
| CREEK | North Dakota | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 24 |
| FOREST RIVER | North Dakota | Poor | 1915 | 111 | 26 |
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.