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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JONES CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 12,400 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 8,204 |
| ABRAMSON CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 12,700 |
| PETERSON CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 12,700 |
| FOREST VIEW CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 12,700 |
| PINER CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 10,000 |
| PORTER CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 1,738 |
| HOUSE CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 300 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 828 |
| HOPPER SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 2,075 |
| NAPA RIVER | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 1,106 |
| SLOUGH S7 | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 1,500 |
| BRANCH PUTAH CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 1,815 |
| CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 18,350 |
| S FORK STANISLAUS RIVER | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 55 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 1,350 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 4,350 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 1,350 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 10 |
| SALADO CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 672 |
| T.I.D. CERES MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 4,119 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 2,313 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 35 |
| SANTA RITA CANAL | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 8,425 |
| ARROYO CANAL | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 9,300 |
| SOUTH FORK DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 1,912 |
| FIREBAUGH MAIN LIFT CNL | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 11,800 |
| MILL DITCH | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 35,496 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 1,800 |
| WILLOW CANAL | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 21,000 |
| INSIDE CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 21,000 |
| OUTSIDE CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 21,000 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 4,300 |
| MORRO CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 8,500 |
| ATASCADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 2,700 |
| SYCAMORE CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 3,100 |
| LION CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 2,500 |
| UNNAMED WASH | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 4,141 |
| UNNAMED WASH | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 3,838 |
| OBAN WASH | California | Good | 1921 | 105 | 3,838 |
| UNNAMED WASH | California | Poor | 1921 | 105 | 3,838 |
| N CHAN BIG TUJUNGA WASH | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 8,546 |
| RIO HONDO | California | Fair | 1921 | 105 | 24,813 |
| ROHNER CREEK | California | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 11,181 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Poor | 1922 | 104 | 486 |
| PIT RIVER | California | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 352 |
| FRENCH GULCH | California | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 742 |
| SAND SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 200 |
| COLD CREEK | California | Fair | 1922 | 104 | 27 |
| LATERAL D CANAL | California | Good | 1922 | 104 | 524 |
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.