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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.