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.

Clear
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.