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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILL CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,300 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 93 |
| SHADY OAKS SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,256 |
| CLOVER CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 80 |
| LYONS CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,066 |
| CLEAR CREEK | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 5,673 |
| ROBBINS CANAL | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 7,400 |
| PHEASANT CANAL | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 5,600 |
| KING SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,427 |
| KING RAVINE | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,311 |
| TOLAY CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 32,000 |
| SONOMA CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 800 |
| AMERICAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 500 |
| SNODGRASS SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 4,293 |
| GRIZZLEY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,785 |
| HANGTOWN CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 20,000 |
| GEORGETOWN CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 962 |
| ELLIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,300 |
| HALLECK CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,000 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 328 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 400 |
| SAN PABLO CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,368 |
| MOSHER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 26,616 |
| DUCK CREEK | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 179 |
| MOSHER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 150 |
| DUCK CREEK BRANCH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 13 |
| SAN LEANDRO CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 16,100 |
| SAN LEANDRO CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 1,130 |
| SUNSET BLVD | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 23,600 |
| SUNSET BLVD | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 20,040 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 8,000 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 12,100 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 500 |
| CARNADERO CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 26,000 |
| STANISLAUS RIVER | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 18,600 |
| HOODS CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 1,778 |
| S SAN JOAQUIN MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 729 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 2,300 |
| BERENDA SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 1,446 |
| FRESNO RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 11,851 |
| LAGUNA CANAL | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 3,025 |
| LAGUNA CANAL | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 830 |
| SAN JUAN CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 51,000 |
| GARRAPATA CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 4,300 |
| SALINAS RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 210 |
| CROSS CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 24,500 |
| SOUTH BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 21,500 |
| TULE RIVER OVERFLOW #1 | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 21,500 |
| TULE RIVER OVERFLOW #2 | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 21,500 |
| N BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 21,500 |
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.