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
OUTSIDE CANAL California Poor 1930 96 93
WEST DELTA CANAL California Fair 1930 96 40
ESCALADIAN CANAL California Fair 1930 96 95
SOUTH SLOUGH California Fair 1930 96 400
SOUTH SLOUGH California Good 1930 96 926
MARIPOSA CREEK California Fair 1930 96 55
ZAPATO CHINO CREEK California Fair 1930 96 2,100
CENTRAL CANAL California Fair 1930 96 5,100
C & K CANAL California Fair 1930 96 400
MUD CREEK California Good 1930 96 375
DRY CREEK CANAL California Good 1930 96 325
PINACATE ROCK CREEK California Fair 1930 96 1,200
STATE ROUTE 68 California Good 1930 96 561
STATE ROUTE 68 California Good 1930 96 561
ELKHORN SLOUGH TRIBUTARY California Fair 1930 96 59,000
SALINAS RIVER California Fair 1930 96 1,800
TEMBLADERO SLOUGH California Fair 1930 96 230
LEWIS CREEK California Poor 1930 96 150
DEEP CREEK California Good 1930 96 9,525
TULE RIVER California Good 1930 96 1,350
WOOD CENTRAL DITCH California Fair 1930 96 1,820
PORTER SLOUGH California Fair 1930 96 3,800
DEER CREEK California Fair 1930 96 25
MILL CREEK California Poor 1930 96 400
MILL CREEK California Good 1930 96 400
WEST BRANCH HUASNA CREEK California Fair 1930 96 401
PILITAS CREEK California Good 1930 96 189
PILITAS CREEK California Good 1930 96 262
STINE CANAL California Good 1930 96 24,430
LEVEE CANAL California Fair 1930 96 15,625
CARRIER CANAL California Good 1930 96 52,000
NOJOQUI CREEK California Fair 1930 96 11,000
MISSION CREEK California Good 1930 96 6,200
COCHE CANYON California Fair 1930 96 100
BORCHARD DRAIN California Good 1930 96 12,225
DENNISON CREEK California Good 1930 96 300
LA CANADA CANYON California Good 1930 96 6,600
BIKEWAY California Good 1930 96 60,000
CITY STS RR LA RIVER California Good 1930 96 31,000
VIOLIN CRK California Fair 1930 96 8,652
LOS ANGELES RIVER California Good 1930 96 28,300
UNNAMED WASH California Good 1930 96 6,353
METROLINK California Good 1930 96 22,500
MOJAVE RIVER California Fair 1930 96 9,040
BNSF RY UP RR AMTRAK California Fair 1930 96 14,000
WEST LUDLOW WASH California Poor 1930 96 1
ROCK WASH California Fair 1930 96 126
VERDE WASH California Fair 1930 96 126
VERBENA WASH California Good 1930 96 126
TRANS DITCH California Fair 1930 96 126

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.