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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRASSY BANKS SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,256 |
| BRANCH PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 276 |
| ASH CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 164 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 513 |
| DUDLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 135 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 133 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 33 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 135 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK OVFLOW | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 164 |
| EDGAR SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 50 |
| CLOVER CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 400 |
| HARBIN CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 152 |
| BIG CANYON CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 308 |
| BIG CANYON CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 304 |
| BIG CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 208 |
| WHISKEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 484 |
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 10 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 3,219 |
| FRESHWATER CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,797 |
| LURLINE CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,298 |
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 180 |
| RD 108 MAIN CANAL | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 62 |
| LURLINE CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 23 |
| IRRIGATION DITCH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,085 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 69 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 5,520 |
| NORTH FORK REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 800 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 430 |
| REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 80 |
| POORMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 27 |
| COON CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 405 |
| PING SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 199 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| WADSWORTH DITCH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 280 |
| NORTH FORK AMERICAN RIV | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 549 |
| MINERS RAVINE | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 17,248 |
| WISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 6,098 |
| MARKHAM RAVINE | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 25 |
| SECRET RAVINE | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,725 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 387 |
| WISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 2,413 |
| WISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,269 |
| SOUTH FORK DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,269 |
| WOOLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 320 |
| BEAR RIVER CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 350 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,486 |
| WOOLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 9,104 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 12,400 |
| COLGAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,000 |
| SONOMA CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 13,900 |
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.