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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN DOMINGO CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 7,100 |
| EAST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 950 |
| GOLDEN GATE AVE | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 1,050 |
| OAKLAND ESTUARY | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 41,000 |
| SOQUEL CREEK | California | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 15,000 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,140 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,796 |
| DOG CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 200 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 2,000 |
| OUTSIDE CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 21,000 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 100 |
| S FORK KAWEAH RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 575 |
| ALTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 100 |
| SOUTH BRANCH ROBINSON CR | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,950 |
| NORTH BRANCH ROBINSON CR | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,950 |
| N BR BUCKEYE CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,950 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH BUCKEYE CR | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 6,950 |
| KERN RIVER PARK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 450 |
| CABRILLO BLVD | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 44,500 |
| CALLEGUAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 4,300 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 4,000 |
| CHARTER OAK WASH | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 223,000 |
| CHAPMAN CANYON | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 2,350 |
| W10-S5&101 CONNECTOR | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 20,000 |
| TOPANGA CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 15,050 |
| PIPE LINE UC | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 33,000 |
| TEXACO INC SERVICE ROAD | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 33,000 |
| BIXBY SLOUGH | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 50,000 |
| GLENDALE BLVD | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 38,087 |
| SILVER LAKE BLVD | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 31,333 |
| FREMONT AVE | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 27,360 |
| MONTEREY PASS RD | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 27,360 |
| SILVERBOW STORM DRN | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 26,842 |
| SIERRA MADRE WASH | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 102 |
| SILVER LAKE BLVD | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 24,918 |
| CARBON CANYON CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 3,700 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 3,102 |
| FORNAT WASH | California | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 240 |
| EAST CHANNEL STUBBE WASH | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 240 |
| SAN ELIJO LAGOON | California | Poor | 1934 | 92 | 20,297 |
| MOUNT HELIX DR | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 859 |
| Colorado River | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 360 |
| Colorado River | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 360 |
| BROWNS CREEK | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 50 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Good | 1934 | 92 | 50 |
| TUOLUMNE RIVER | California | Fair | 1934 | 92 | 2,041 |
| ROSE CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 4,000 |
| SHASTA RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 45 |
| All-American Canal | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| Mission Wash Overchute | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 80 |
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.