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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK BAYOU | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 23,500 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 9,500 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 43,000 |
| TULE RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 43,000 |
| TULARE IRRIG DIST CANAL | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 6,100 |
| WHITE RIVER | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 425 |
| BUENA VISTA SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 10,400 |
| GAVIOTA CREEK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 16,000 |
| CANADA LARGA | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 7,700 |
| TODD BARRANCA | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 850 |
| SAN GABRIEL RIVER | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 36,400 |
| SLIDE CANYON | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,700 |
| FERN CANYON | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,700 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 3,700 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 58,397 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 30,952 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 25,265 |
| PACOIMA CRK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 2,244 |
| SAN ANTONIO CRK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 1,475 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 20,077 |
| CASTAIC CRK | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 11,505 |
| BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 502 |
| LIMESTONE CANYON | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 8,000 |
| MORRILL CANYON | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 11,730 |
| DECKER CANYON | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 8,600 |
| BUENA VISTA AVENUE | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 490 |
| AZTEC DITCH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 40 |
| TARANTULA DITCH | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 40 |
| SUTRO DITCH | California | Fair | 1931 | 95 | 40 |
| ACARI DITCH | California | Poor | 1931 | 95 | 40 |
| SDIV RR | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 1,055 |
| BOUNDARY CREEK | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 1,055 |
| MAPLE CANYON | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 5,765 |
| ARAZ WASH | California | Good | 1931 | 95 | 510 |
| BEAVER CREEK | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 650 |
| E BR SOUTH FORK EEL RIV | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 627 |
| UP RR & BNSF RY | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 3,375 |
| RUSH CREEK | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,345 |
| E BR N FK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 10 |
| ASH CREEK | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 650 |
| N FK FEATHER RIVER | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 1,450 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 223 |
| LADIES CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 600 |
| OAT VALLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 2,550 |
| COTTONWOOD SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 25 |
| SUISUN CREEK | California | Poor | 1932 | 94 | 202,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVER | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 36,719 |
| NEW YORK CREEK | California | Fair | 1932 | 94 | 963 |
| NOVATO CREEK | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 7,037 |
| ESTERO DE SAN ANTONIO | California | Good | 1932 | 94 | 249 |
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.