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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 3,101 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 550 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 500 |
| COLONY MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 250 |
| KINGSBURG BRANCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 200 |
| RIVERDALE DITCH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 900 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 340 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 662 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 367 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 923 |
| TRES PINOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 800 |
| SAN JUAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,464 |
| MALPASO CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 11,100 |
| PANCHO RICO CREEK | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 890 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 16,437 |
| STENNER CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 7,735 |
| EAST SIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 10,689 |
| LAS LLAJAS CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 16,000 |
| OPEN LAND | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 30,470 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 24,637 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 30,660 |
| TUJUNGA WASH | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 21,500 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 7,313 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 10,403 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 7,519 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 13,081 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 9,888 |
| FISH CRK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 612 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 35,000 |
| RUBIO WASH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 10,300 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 510 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,020 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,020 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,020 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 510 |
| RUBIO WASH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 5,100 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,482 |
| HALLS BECKLEY CYN CH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 24,289 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 27,443 |
| MET WTR DSTRCT AQUEDUCT | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,428 |
| RICE SPILLWAY | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,428 |
| MISSION STORM DRAIN | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 300 |
| VICTORIA DRIVE | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 36,000 |
| SANTIAGO CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 1,000 |
| SILVERADO CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 2,000 |
| ITTA WASH | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 120,000 |
| SAN GORGONIO OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 10 |
| MET WTR DSTRCT AQUEDUCT | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 1,428 |
| SMITH CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 25,000 |
| HOLE CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 61,950 |
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.