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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNSF RY L A RIVER UPRR | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 26,666 |
| EAST COMEY AVE DRAIN | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 42,250 |
| MISSION STORM DRAIN | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 23,000 |
| SAN TIMOTEO CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 4,400 |
| AGUA CHINON WASH | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 201,000 |
| SAN JUAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 8,000 |
| SAN JACINTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 6,189 |
| SOME CREEK | California | Good | 1927 | 99 | 1,700 |
| MTDB BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 12,100 |
| CASSIDY STREET | California | Poor | 1927 | 99 | 1 |
| Merced River | California | Fair | 1927 | 99 | 100 |
| SHASTA RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,200 |
| NORTH FORK MAD RIVER | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 624 |
| MATTOLE RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 200 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 10 |
| BIEBER CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,050 |
| UNNAMED STREAM | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 84 |
| EAST FORK RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,203 |
| BRANCH WALKER CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 65 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 24 |
| SIMMERLY SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 40 |
| TRUCKEE RIVER | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 11,100 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 212 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 100 |
| COON CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 560 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 18,000 |
| SANTA ROSA CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 31,300 |
| CALABAZAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,000 |
| GRAPE CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 200 |
| CRANE CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 200 |
| PINE RIDGE CANYON | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 750 |
| CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 416 |
| STEWART CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,700 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 189,000 |
| JOHNTOWN CREEK | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 1,391 |
| ARROYO DE SAN JOSE | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 139,000 |
| OLEMA CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 2,900 |
| OLEMA CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 2,500 |
| ARROYO NICASIO | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 4,000 |
| ARROYO SAUSAL TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 330 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 328 |
| MARSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 17,900 |
| DUCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,607 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,104 |
| KETTLEMAN SLOUGH | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 5,015 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 573 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 240 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 328 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 304 |
| CALAVERITAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 203 |
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.