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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOJAVE RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 20 |
| LAGUNA CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 36,000 |
| PRIMA DESHECHA CANADA | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 16,000 |
| SAN JACINTO RIV OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 6,189 |
| TEQUESQUITE ARROYO | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 11,360 |
| GRANDE CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 7,800 |
| E ST-S5 ON RAMP | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 500 |
| 28TH ST | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 9,761 |
| BEELER CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 550 |
| PINE VALLEY CREEK | California | Good | 1928 | 98 | 1,058 |
| COTTONWOOD CR | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1,145 |
| NORTHFORK WILLOW CREEK | California | Poor | 1928 | 98 | 50 |
| MEDIA CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 10 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 3,425 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 100 |
| TENAYA CREEK | California | Fair | 1928 | 98 | 1 |
| DRY GULCH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,200 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,400 |
| WEST END RD CREEK NCRRA | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 17,500 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 644 |
| MAPLE CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 105 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 179 |
| MEARS CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 1,050 |
| PAYNES CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,375 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,100 |
| GURNSEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,100 |
| SOUTH FORK ANTELOPE CRK | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 500 |
| MCCLURE CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 400 |
| S FK WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 56 |
| STONE CORRAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 459 |
| SIMMERLY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 900 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 250 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 100 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,960 |
| SECRET RAVINE | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 6,490 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 100 |
| SONOMA CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,628 |
| MATANZAS CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 5,800 |
| LICHAU CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 2,900 |
| DRY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 216 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 3,112 |
| ARCADE CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 26,461 |
| MEEKS CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,200 |
| SOUTH FORK WEBER CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,667 |
| WORNUM DRIVE | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 172,000 |
| LAGUNITAS CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,500 |
| LAGUNITAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 3,500 |
| LAGUNITAS CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 3,500 |
| SAN ANSELMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 34,000 |
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.