Historic Bridges in California
4,414 bridges built before 1951 in California still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 4,414 bridges in California 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANTA ROSA CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 11,900 |
| NATHANSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,000 |
| FOWLER CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 3,300 |
| TANNERY CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| FOSS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,830 |
| GARNETT CREEK BRANCH | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 12,000 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 2,490 |
| ETICUERA CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 370 |
| CONN CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 740 |
| NAPA CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 3,400 |
| BRETONA CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 22,400 |
| OVERFLOW DITCH | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 1,256 |
| ZAMORA DITCH | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 1,724 |
| WINTERS CANAL | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 450 |
| DEVILS GULCH | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 3,000 |
| RODEO CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20,250 |
| SAN PABLO CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 6,000 |
| SHELL OIL CO PIPE UC | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 14,000 |
| TEMPLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| ANGELS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 78 |
| SONORA CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 2,000 |
| WOODS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,149 |
| ALAMEDA CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 35,700 |
| PULGAS CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 7,000 |
| EL CORTE DE MADERA CRK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 16 |
| ALPINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 91 |
| SAN MATEO CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 2,890 |
| SAN MATEO CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 1,830 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 500 |
| CASSERLY CREEK TRIB NO 2 | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 500 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,509 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 8,270 |
| PERMANENTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,000 |
| MIGUELITA CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 740 |
| WRIGLEY FORD CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| DUCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,900 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 123 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 6,302 |
| CLARIBEL LATERAL | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 4,100 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 3,774 |
| SALADO CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 8,770 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,611 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #5 | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 300 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 2,102 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,500 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 336 |
| PATTERSON ID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 377 |
| T.I.D. LATERAL #5 | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,738 |
| T.I.D. CERES MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 3,669 |
| T.I.D. LOWER LATERAL #2 | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 86 |
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.