Historic Bridges in Tennessee
2,857 bridges built before 1951 in Tennessee still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 2,857 bridges in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANSKER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1841 | 185 | 30 |
| EAST FORK | Tennessee | Fair | 1875 | 151 | 20 |
| SEWEE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1884 | 142 | 20 |
| RR GRADE RD / DOE RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1889 | 137 | 50 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1895 | 131 | 290 |
| TENNESSEE RIVER & 2 RTS. | Tennessee | Poor | 1897 | 129 | 6,215 |
| BOYDS CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1898 | 128 | 9,584 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 560 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1900 | 126 | 160 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| ELK RIVER | Tennessee | Poor | 1901 | 125 | 100 |
| CENTENARY CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1902 | 124 | 80 |
| BIG LAUREL CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1903 | 123 | 30 |
| BNSF & CSX RAILROADS | Tennessee | Fair | 1903 | 123 | 150 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1904 | 122 | 31,515 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1905 | 121 | 14,283 |
| DUCK RIVER (OSFSP) | Tennessee | Poor | 1906 | 120 | 50 |
| INACTIVE NS RR SPUR | Tennessee | Poor | 1906 | 120 | 2,659 |
| W CLINCH AVE/WORLD FAIR | Tennessee | Fair | 1907 | 119 | 3,063 |
| BOONE CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1909 | 117 | 1,450 |
| SINKING CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 520 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1910 | 116 | 290 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1913 | 113 | 2,400 |
| LAZY BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1913 | 113 | 115 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 40 |
| W PRG LITTLE PIGEON RIVE | Tennessee | Poor | 1913 | 113 | 7,870 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 660 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| PINE CREEK | Tennessee | Poor | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| PINE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| S.FK. CUMBERLAND RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 20 |
| BEECH LOG CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1914 | 112 | 1,210 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1914 | 112 | 1,750 |
| NINE MILE CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 350 |
| CSX RAILROAD | Tennessee | Poor | 1915 | 111 | — |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 3,450 |
| DOE RIVER | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 800 |
| BROWN CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 3,618 |
| WOLFTEVER CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 240 |
| STOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1915 | 111 | 3,647 |
| ROSEBERRY CREEK | Tennessee | Good | 1915 | 111 | 250 |
| STOCK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 710 |
| HINES CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 1,151 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 1,713 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 100 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1915 | 111 | 651 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 651 |
| BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1915 | 111 | 630 |
| ROUND LICK CREEK | Tennessee | Fair | 1915 | 111 | 430 |
| NEAL BRANCH | Tennessee | Good | 1915 | 111 | 540 |
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.