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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N FK SANTA YSABEL CREEK | California | Good | 1935 | 91 | 447 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 300 |
| W BRANCH FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 25 |
| SOUTH ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Poor | 1935 | 91 | 20 |
| HALLS GULCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| N.FK.AMERICAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1935 | 91 | 50 |
| DUTCH FLAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,110 |
| 945 Wash Overchute | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| 888 Wash Overchute | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| 807 Wash Overchute | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| All American Canal | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| ELK RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 518 |
| ELK RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 38 |
| SULPHUR CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 25,000 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 3,651 |
| CLEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| BALDWIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 232 |
| STANDISH IRRIG. CANAL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,975 |
| RICE CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,345 |
| NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,345 |
| NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,345 |
| GRIZZLY CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,345 |
| SLATE CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 30 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 63 |
| WALKER CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,051 |
| HAMBRIGHT CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 3,301 |
| BIGGS EXTENSION CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 749 |
| RED BARN SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 562 |
| CHANNEL SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 225 |
| NO NAME DRAIN | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 80 |
| NORTH FORK YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 100 |
| PETROLEUM CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,616 |
| GOSSAGE CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 16,000 |
| BELL CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 4,310 |
| DUNNIGAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,256 |
| WINTERS CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 123 |
| ALAMO CREEK | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 147,000 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 672 |
| UP RR YARD | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 8,594 |
| UP RR BNSF AMTRAK ETC | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,995 |
| STEELY FK COSUMNES RIVER | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 2,080 |
| NORTH FK COSUMNES RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 240 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 224 |
| NOVATO CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 6,711 |
| CERRITO CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 179,000 |
| PINOLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,000 |
| WHITE SLOUGH (HONKER CUT | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 958 |
| S. FORK MOKELUMNE RIVER | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 750 |
| ROCK CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 37 |
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.