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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLAMATH RIVER | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 21 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 39 |
| Cocopah Canal | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 40 |
| BURNEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 359 |
| BAILEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 42 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 631 |
| GLENDENNING CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 321 |
| WEST FORK HAT CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 230 |
| HAT CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 230 |
| SOUTH FORK BEAR CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 90 |
| SODA CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2 |
| WHITEHEAD SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| SOUTH FORK DILL SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 232 |
| BRUSH CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 1,660 |
| MCCLURE CREEK NORTH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 600 |
| UNNAMED SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 450 |
| ZIMMERSHED CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 80 |
| BUTLER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| ROUND VALLEY LAKE OUTLET | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 55 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,375 |
| PACKARD DRAW | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 91 |
| BUTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 93 |
| PRINCETON CODORA CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 967 |
| CAMPBELL SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 72 |
| CAMPBELL SLOUGH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 586 |
| WATSON CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 268 |
| DRY GULCH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 142 |
| PANCAKE DRAW | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 93 |
| ARTOIS DRAWLET | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 85 |
| HAMBRIGHT CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 226 |
| BRANCH LOGAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,100 |
| VANSYCKLE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 26 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 249 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 398 |
| BRANCH STONY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 235 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 223 |
| BRANCH STONY CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 235 |
| NORTH FORK LOGAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 40 |
| OROVILLE DAM BLVD | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 500 |
| LAKE MADRONE SPILLWAY | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 542 |
| LINDO CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 669 |
| COMANCHE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 21 |
| CAMPBELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 456 |
| HAMILTON SLOUGH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 270 |
| FALL RIVER | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 71 |
| NORTH FORK HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 132 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 20 |
| KEEFER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 17,020 |
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.