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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROARING CREEK | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 550 |
| BROWNELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 200 |
| MCCLAY CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 200 |
| PARKER CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 50 |
| GERBER LEVEE CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 350 |
| WILLITS CREEK (MILL CRK) | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 7,200 |
| STEER DITCH | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 9,800 |
| MCCLATCHY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 381 |
| GILSIZER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 200 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 12,500 |
| ARROYO SECO | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 19,000 |
| ATASCADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 10,304 |
| SOUTH FORK WILLOW SLOUGH | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 175 |
| PUTAH CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 789 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,150 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,550 |
| NORTH FORK DRY CREEK | California | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 1,237 |
| N BR FRENCH CAMP SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 4,300 |
| UPPER PENITENCIA CREEK | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 3,993 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,940 |
| T.I.D. LATERAL #2 | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 5,200 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 2,597 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #6 | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 10,981 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 28,000 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,800 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 100 |
| PACKWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 52,000 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 250 |
| EAST FORK KAWEAH RIVER | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 25 |
| TRAVER CANAL | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 125 |
| ARROYO GRANDE CREEK | California | Poor | 1923 | 103 | 966 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 5,400 |
| SANDY CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 10,700 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,350 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,350 |
| PACOIMA WASH | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 19,441 |
| NATURAL WATERWAY-NO NAME | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 260 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | California | Good | 1923 | 103 | 4,750 |
| FERN DELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 1,160 |
| MIRANDA PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | 50 |
| PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY | California | Fair | 1923 | 103 | — |
| EAGLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 610 |
| HULING CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 610 |
| ROBBERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,300 |
| LASSEN CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 600 |
| BUTLER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 9,300 |
| NEW CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 9,300 |
| MILL RACE CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 9,300 |
| SALT CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 9,300 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 11,000 |
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.