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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORRS CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 18,278 |
| BROADDUS CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 7,200 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 20 |
| SOUTH BRNCH WYMAN RAVINE | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,470 |
| RD 108 10Q CANAL | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 59 |
| LAKE OF THE WOODS SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 770 |
| TRUCKEE RIVER | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 70 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 70 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 29,000 |
| GOSSAGE CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,100 |
| FIFE CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,800 |
| NAPA RIVER | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 484 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 3,800 |
| CORTE MADERA CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 32,300 |
| SAN PABLO CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 20,490 |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 750 |
| PIXLEY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 11,122 |
| TEMPLE CREEK BRANCH | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,194 |
| CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 402 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 289 |
| PIXLEY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 457 |
| ROADSIDE DRAIN | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| ROADSIDE DRAIN | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| IRRIGATION DITCH | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| S BR S LITTLEJOHNS CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| TEMPLE CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| DRAIN CANAL | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 520 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 380 |
| SAUSAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 7,335 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,200 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 14,928 |
| FISHER CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 4,470 |
| FISHER CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 4,470 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 7,100 |
| CALABAZAS CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 959 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 810 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 350 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 333 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 343 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 123 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 500 |
| SOUTH BR INGALSBE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 1,425 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 340 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 102 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,125 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 2,125 |
| SLATE GULCH | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,400 |
| SWEETWATER CREEK | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,400 |
| SOUTH FORK MERCED RIVER | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 1,400 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,400 |
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.