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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 955 |
| SODA CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,300 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 78 |
| BRANCH OF HAEHL CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 62 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 3,050 |
| ANGEL SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 586 |
| NO NAME DRAIN | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 397 |
| WHITE CABIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 185 |
| BRANCH WALKER CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 155 |
| BRANCH SALT CREEK | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 91 |
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,452 |
| CAMP CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 20 |
| LINDO CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 24,100 |
| BIG CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,013 |
| ROCKY HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 234 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 65 |
| HENDRICKS CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 594 |
| NORTH BRANCH BRUSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,958 |
| KIMBALL CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 230 |
| HUTCHINSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,700 |
| REEDS CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 1,700 |
| REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,700 |
| DONNER SUMMIT | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 552 |
| WESTSIDE CANAL | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 61 |
| WESTSIDE CANAL | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 12 |
| COON CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 405 |
| COON CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 140 |
| COON CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 122 |
| SNAKE RIVER | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 768 |
| S BRNCH SUTTER-BUTTE CNL | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 1,159 |
| SNAKE RIVER | California | Poor | 1925 | 101 | 325 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 50 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 760 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 4,403 |
| BLUCHER CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 1,562 |
| PETALUMA RIVER | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 4,200 |
| POOL CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 13,800 |
| POOL CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 2,000 |
| MILLIKEN CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 1,033 |
| CONN CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 970 |
| TULOCAY CR (CAYETANO CR) | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 2,836 |
| GOODNOW SLOUGH | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 461 |
| DENVERTON SLOUGH | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 30 |
| HUMBUG CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 10,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,346 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 2,346 |
| STONE LAKE DRAIN | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 2,346 |
| NORTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1925 | 101 | 6,200 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 200 |
| TRAVERSE CREEK | California | Fair | 1925 | 101 | 300 |
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.