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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRFAX CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 110 |
| SAN ANSELMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 400 |
| SMART RAILROAD | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,000 |
| MOKELUMNE RI FRONTAGE R | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 29,500 |
| PIXLEY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 60,500 |
| MOSHER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 64,000 |
| CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 35,500 |
| JAHANT SLOUGH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 700 |
| CALAVERITAS CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 7,300 |
| W BRANCH CHEROKEE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,900 |
| N. FORK MOKELUMNE RIVER | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,350 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 216 |
| ONEIL CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 332 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 65 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 35 |
| PEPPERMINT CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,149 |
| CURTIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,708 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 2,800 |
| SAN JOSE AVE | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,000 |
| CALTRAIN | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 20,000 |
| CALTRAIN | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 8,000 |
| BELMONT CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 195,000 |
| CORDILLERAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 195,000 |
| MARSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 199,000 |
| CORDILLERAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 8,612 |
| SANCHEZ CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| EASTON CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 100 |
| SAN MATEO CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 1,000 |
| SANCHEZ CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,000 |
| RINCON GULCH | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 4,700 |
| EAST ZAYANTE ROAD | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 5,000 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 43,250 |
| CARNADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 1,970 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 250 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 250 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 9,275 |
| GUADALUPE RIVER | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 15,000 |
| HOODS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 4,900 |
| NEWMAN WASTEWAY | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 244 |
| WESTLEY WASTEWAY | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 158 |
| W STANISLAUS I.D. LAT 4 | California | Poor | 1930 | 96 | 119 |
| PEASLEE CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 288 |
| DRY CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 170 |
| T.I.D. LOWER LATERAL #2 | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 3,300 |
| NORTH FORK DEADMAN CREEK | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 35 |
| OWENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 297 |
| LIVINGSTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 6,238 |
| DIBBLEE LATERAL | California | Good | 1930 | 96 | 338 |
| LE GRAND CANAL | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 101 |
| DUTCHMAN CREEK #2 | California | Fair | 1930 | 96 | 147 |
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.