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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEJSA CANYON | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,850 |
| PACOIMA WASH | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 28,715 |
| VENICE BLVD | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 12,718 |
| EATON WASH | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 7,166 |
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 39,096 |
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 3,366 |
| RIO HONDO | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 47,632 |
| MOJAVE RIVER | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 12,000 |
| SELVA DITCH | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 235 |
| MOREY ARROYO | California | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 3,550 |
| VIEJAS CREEK | California | Good | 1933 | 93 | 6,575 |
| MTDB BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 19,000 |
| CUDAHY CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 50 |
| SAN DIEGO RIV FRIARS RD | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 6,437 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Poor | 1933 | 93 | 3,416 |
| MERCED RIVER | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 3,416 |
| BRIDALVEIL CREEK | California | Fair | 1933 | 93 | 1,517 |
| BIDWELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 400 |
| SOUTH FORK EEL RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 69 |
| HAT CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 1,625 |
| HAT CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 1,625 |
| HAT CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 1,625 |
| CLOVER CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 300 |
| CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,050 |
| E FK OF N FK REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 227 |
| UNNAMED SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 450 |
| NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,345 |
| FELIZ CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 13,800 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 13,800 |
| PINE CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 11,600 |
| MAIN DRAINAGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 715 |
| DOWNIE RIVER | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 100 |
| SAINT HELENA CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 10,900 |
| HUNTERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 669 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 963 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 963 |
| WARD CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 8,000 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,100 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 6,100 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER (TOWER) | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 12,000 |
| NAPA RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 5,743 |
| AYO CORTE MADERA DEL PRE | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 4,500 |
| MARSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 5,588 |
| DUCK CREEK S BRANCH | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 5,449 |
| NORTH LITTLE JOHNS CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,500 |
| WEBER CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 4,138 |
| WEBER CREEK BRANCH | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,626 |
| S BR S LITTLEJOHNS CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 4,995 |
| TEMPLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 5,528 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 7,300 |
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.