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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEMPLE CREEK N BRANCH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 641 |
| CHANNEL A | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 301 |
| CHANNEL A BRANCH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 301 |
| ALAMEDA CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 141,000 |
| SAN LORENZO CREEK | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 2,120 |
| ARROYO DE LA LAGUNA | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 5,200 |
| SAN LORENZO CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 11,800 |
| SAN JOSE AVE | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,000 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 21,100 |
| KINGS CREEK | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 5,000 |
| UVAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 300 |
| FURLONG CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 3,800 |
| BRANCH OF PAJARO RIVER | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,800 |
| PAJARO RIVER | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,800 |
| FISHER CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 2,100 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #5 | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,898 |
| S SAN JOAQUIN MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 52 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 379 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 438 |
| MID LOWR WATERFORD CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 318 |
| S FK BLACK RASCAL CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 15,950 |
| SOUTH SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 339 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 500 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 4,800 |
| ALTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 325 |
| NORTH FORK TULE RIVER | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 280 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 50 |
| RINCON CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 3,100 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 530 |
| ARROYO SEQUIT | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 12,700 |
| TRANCAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 17,100 |
| ZUMA CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 25,100 |
| GARAPITO CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 15,650 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 41,100 |
| BEACON WASH | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 20,000 |
| EATON WASH | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 21,836 |
| RUBIO WASH | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 16,380 |
| BIG ROCK CRK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,530 |
| ARROYO SECO CHAN | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,965 |
| OLD TOPANGA CRK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 2,300 |
| RUBIO WASH | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 4,794 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 1,256 |
| HYPERION AVENUE | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 1,397 |
| CHATSWORTH CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 14,036 |
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.