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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAXWELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 10 |
| ARROYO GRANDE CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 5,546 |
| MISSION CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 700 |
| BEANFIELD DRAIN | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 144,000 |
| TAMARISK DRAIN | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 144,000 |
| MADRANIO CANYON CRK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 76,000 |
| ESCONDIDO CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 26,500 |
| CORRAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 32,700 |
| LAS FLORES CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 43,250 |
| ROUTE 1 | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 13,500 |
| UP RR AMTRAK METROLINK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 91,000 |
| L A RIVER UP RR BNSF | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 37,152 |
| RUBIO WASH | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 27,122 |
| EATON WASH | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 11,568 |
| PALLETT CRK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,530 |
| TOPANGA CYN CRK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 3,900 |
| DIMMICK DR. | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| SWARTHOUT CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 1,750 |
| ALISO CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 36,000 |
| POTRERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1926 | 100 | 19,252 |
| RURAL CREEK | California | Good | 1926 | 100 | 19,800 |
| STANISLAUS RIVER | California | Poor | 1926 | 100 | 50 |
| HELY CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 1,650 |
| WARREN CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 472 |
| DONEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,178 |
| SLATE CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 52 |
| SACRAMENTO RIV OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 850 |
| ARBUCKLE GULCH | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 150 |
| ELMORE CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 20 |
| REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 16,400 |
| SOUTH FORK JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 100 |
| WILSON CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 2,678 |
| HODDAP CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 43 |
| EDGAR SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| FUNKS CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 642 |
| STONE CORRAL CREEK | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 1,976 |
| WEST BEST SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| EAST BEST SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| SOUTH FORK REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 190 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 490 |
| BLUCHER CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 700 |
| WILLOW SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 31,500 |
| ARCADE CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 14,000 |
| BROOKTREE CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 26,461 |
| ARCADE CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 21,459 |
| BRANCH ARCADE CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 33,198 |
| NORTH BRNCH GREENWOOD CR | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 962 |
| DUTCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 151 |
| CHILENO CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 213 |
| TEMPLE CREEK S BRANCH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 641 |
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.