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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 161 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 1,020 |
| SODA SPRINGS CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 552 |
| AGUA CALIENTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 18,600 |
| STUART CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 14,200 |
| AUSTIN CREEK | California | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 30 |
| SONOMA CREEK | California | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 13,900 |
| PENA CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 300 |
| STRAWBERRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 131,000 |
| STEAMBOAT SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 1,550 |
| UNION HOUSE CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 39,401 |
| ELDER CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 36,051 |
| SOUTH BRANCH FLORIN CRK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 30,724 |
| FLORIN CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 30,724 |
| MORRISON CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 26,332 |
| MORRISON CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 23,306 |
| HANGTOWN CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 5,000 |
| GARRITY CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 15,260 |
| SAN MATEO CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 2,790 |
| BRANCIFORTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 100,000 |
| WEST BRANCH SARATOGA CRK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 2,450 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 500 |
| GUADALUPE RIVER | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 20,350 |
| CROY CREEK | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 300 |
| ARROYO CALERO | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 450 |
| T.I.D. UPPER LATERAL #3 | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 4,713 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 4,874 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1924 | 102 | 3,434 |
| T.I.D. CERES MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 2,100 |
| LATERAL #6 | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 173 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 35 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 400 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 9,500 |
| KERN RIVER | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 10,600 |
| FLNT CYN CHAN / EQ T | California | Fair | 1924 | 102 | 3,672 |
| MORO CREEK | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 37,250 |
| TEMESCAL WASH | California | Good | 1924 | 102 | 6,273 |
| MIDDLE FORK SMITH RIVER | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,750 |
| ELK CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 40 |
| MATTOLE RIVER | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,225 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 61 |
| PIT RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| PIT RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| PIT RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| PIT RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| PIT RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| PIT RIVER | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,800 |
| JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 150 |
| JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,491 |
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.