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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JESUS MARIA CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 93 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 277 |
| BLANKET CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 55 |
| SR 123 (MACARTHUR BLVD) | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 24,350 |
| TEMESCAL CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 288,000 |
| STATE ROUTE 123 | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 3,000 |
| SAN FRANCISCO BAY 3 STS | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 200,000 |
| YERBA BUENA ISLAND | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 248,000 |
| JFK DRIVE | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 81,000 |
| CALTRAIN & UP RR | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 10,200 |
| BEALE STREET | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20,000 |
| EASTON CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 300 |
| SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 18,700 |
| CORRALITOS CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 7,000 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 21,100 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 21,100 |
| SCOTT CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 500 |
| LOS CORRALITOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 500 |
| BEAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 14,270 |
| EMBARCADERO ROAD | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 22,000 |
| GUADALUPE RIVER | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 6,700 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #4 | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 4,532 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,475 |
| OWENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 380 |
| ALAMO DRAIN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 16,500 |
| COARSEGOLD CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 20,000 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,700 |
| NORTH AVE & BNSF RY | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,410 |
| SELMA BRANCH C & K CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 5,650 |
| SANDRIDGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 150 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 600 |
| ENTERPRISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 200 |
| JOLON ROAD | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,150 |
| POPLAR DITCH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 8,300 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 25 |
| WEED CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,400 |
| BROAD CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 9,700 |
| LERDO CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 90,000 |
| FAMOSO CATTLEPASS | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 61,000 |
| LERDO CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 61,000 |
| KERN ISLAND CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,541 |
| BRANCH COTA CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 9,000 |
| SAN ANTONIO CREEK | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 20,500 |
| TODD BARRANCA | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 5,400 |
| LA RIV SCRRA UPRR AMTRAK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 91,500 |
| BNSF RY | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 26,500 |
| SAN GABRIEL RIV EF | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,020 |
| VALLEY BLVD & UP RR | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 27,790 |
| CENTINELA CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 30,500 |
| FOX HILLS WASH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 55,000 |
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.