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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-American Canal | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| Un Named Wash Overchute | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| Bee Wash Overchute | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| 120 Wash overchute | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,836 |
| MATTOLE RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 205 |
| ROHNER CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,160 |
| CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 49 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 18,750 |
| NORTH FORK BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 87 |
| SNOW CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 87 |
| SOUTH FORK COW CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 87 |
| CHURN CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,770 |
| ANDERSON CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 2,727 |
| CLINE GULCH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 60 |
| DUCKET CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| FRENCH GULCH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 60 |
| LUCILLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 10 |
| NORTH FORK BATTLE CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 355 |
| DIGGER CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 492 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 300 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 300 |
| BRICKYARD CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 9,853 |
| VIOLA SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 80 |
| HOUGHTON CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 40 |
| RANCHERIA CREEK | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 195 |
| BURRIGHT CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,821 |
| MCKEE OVERFLOW | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 157 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 87 |
| PRINCETON CODORA CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 95 |
| CLARKS VALLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 27 |
| CLARKS VALLEY CREEK | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 27 |
| EDGAR SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 184 |
| WYMAN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 500 |
| GRASSY BANKS DITCH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,820 |
| COOPER CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 212 |
| COOPER CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 123 |
| PAMELA CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 76 |
| LITTLE STONY CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 40 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 23 |
| NORTH FORK REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,900 |
| BEALE AFB SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,900 |
| BEAR RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,313 |
| EASTSIDE DRAINAGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 718 |
| EASTSIDE DRAINAGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 269 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CRK CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,106 |
| ROBBINS (DRAINAGE) CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 23 |
| BEAR RIVER CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 8,097 |
| WOOLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,164 |
| NORTH RAVINE | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 3,041 |
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.