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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAGUNITAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,000 |
| SAN GERONIMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,500 |
| NOVATO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 9,103 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 328 |
| SAN ANSELMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 255 |
| PINOLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 11,000 |
| ARROYO DEL HAMBRE | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,000 |
| MARKLEEVILLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 840 |
| TURNBACK CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 2,613 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 26,250 |
| MISSION CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 12,800 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,000 |
| T.I.D. LATERAL #5 | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 180 |
| S SAN JOAQUIN MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 2,415 |
| MAIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 85 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 425 |
| MUSTANG CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 1,884 |
| MILES CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 4,650 |
| SALINAS RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,500 |
| TRAVER CANAL | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 5,400 |
| TEMPLETON CREEK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 6,836 |
| NORTH FORK TEMPLETON CRK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 6,836 |
| SAN EMIGDIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,300 |
| MISSION CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,100 |
| WINCHESTER CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 32,000 |
| TECOLOTITO CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 14,800 |
| SANTA CLARA AVE DRAIN | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 12,100 |
| MYRA AVE | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 17,524 |
| WEBB CYN CRK | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 252 |
| L A RIV UP BNSF MYERS | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 24,550 |
| HILLSIDE NORTH BROADWAY | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 23,420 |
| GLENDALE BL SB LA RIV | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 35,874 |
| Riverside Drive | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 35,874 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 50,619 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 10,099 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 12,519 |
| FLARE DITCH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 345 |
| YERMO DITCH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 821 |
| MANIX WASH | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 1 |
| DAGGET DITCH | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 1,052 |
| LOWER DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 13,208 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK CHAN | California | Good | 1929 | 97 | 20,177 |
| UP RR | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 10,420 |
| SAN JUAN CANYON | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 9,800 |
| BREA CANYON CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 20,709 |
| SAN JACINTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,774 |
| N FK SAN JACINTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,774 |
| STRAWBERRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 3,570 |
| SAN LUIS REY RIVER | California | Poor | 1929 | 97 | 12,000 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Fair | 1929 | 97 | 50 |
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.