Historic Bridges in Rhode Island
179 bridges built before 1951 in Rhode Island still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 179 bridges in Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1810 | 216 | 2,958 |
| BRANCH RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1855 | 171 | 5,430 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1858 | 168 | 16,040 |
| PASCOAG RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1865 | 161 | 5,800 |
| SEEKONK RVR TAFT S | Rhode Island | Fair | 1877 | 149 | 14,948 |
| SAUGATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1882 | 144 | 3,449 |
| P&W RR | Rhode Island | Poor | 1882 | 144 | 1,111 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1884 | 142 | 2,425 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 3,811 |
| SAUGATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 8,515 |
| MILL POND | Rhode Island | Fair | 1885 | 141 | 15,352 |
| ABBOTT RUN | Rhode Island | Poor | 1886 | 140 | — |
| ABBOTT RUN CANAL | Rhode Island | Fair | 1886 | 140 | 1,943 |
| ABBOTT RUN | Rhode Island | Fair | 1886 | 140 | 1,943 |
| OLD WORC & BOSTON CANAL | Rhode Island | Fair | 1887 | 139 | 4,034 |
| MOSHASSUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1887 | 139 | 6,200 |
| WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1888 | 138 | 5,445 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER N BRANCH | Rhode Island | Poor | 1888 | 138 | 910 |
| POLO LAKE | Rhode Island | Fair | 1889 | 137 | 6,746 |
| MOSHASSUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1894 | 132 | 690 |
| WEST RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1894 | 132 | 7,777 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1895 | 131 | 10,965 |
| POCASSET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1896 | 130 | 13,032 |
| POCASSET RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1897 | 129 | 11 |
| PLEASURE LAKE | Rhode Island | Poor | 1897 | 129 | 2,764 |
| CUNLIFFS LAKE | Rhode Island | Poor | 1897 | 129 | 2,551 |
| ASHAWAY RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 1,111 |
| PAWTUXET RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1900 | 126 | 5,919 |
| BLACKSTONE CANAL | Rhode Island | Good | 1900 | 126 | 2,958 |
| AMTRAK & P&W RR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 12,323 |
| AMTRAK & P&W RR | Rhode Island | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 12,727 |
| AMTRAK & P&W RR | Rhode Island | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 16,040 |
| PETERS RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 6,592 |
| POCASSET RIVER | Rhode Island | Good | 1900 | 126 | 2,630 |
| WOONASQUATUCKET HEADRACE | Rhode Island | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| MANVILLE MILL TRENCH | Rhode Island | Fair | 1901 | 125 | 7,800 |
| AMTRAK | Rhode Island | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 606 |
| PASCOAG RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1902 | 124 | 8,750 |
| CHEPACHET RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1903 | 123 | 2,700 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1903 | 123 | 13,424 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1903 | 123 | 13,424 |
| INDIAN RUN BROOK | Rhode Island | Fair | 1903 | 123 | 1,954 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1904 | 122 | 7,777 |
| MOSHASSUCK RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1904 | 122 | 15,043 |
| PASCOAG RIVER | Rhode Island | Fair | 1906 | 120 | 3,600 |
| ASHAWAY RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 653 |
| BRANCH RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1907 | 119 | 5,454 |
| AMTRAK & P&W RR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1907 | 119 | 25,343 |
| P&W RR | Rhode Island | Fair | 1908 | 118 | 4,175 |
| WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER | Rhode Island | Poor | 1909 | 117 | 12,493 |
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.