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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAFFEY STREET | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,960 |
| SANTA CLARA RIV BR | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 2,550 |
| HALLS CYN CH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 979 |
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,550 |
| VERDUGO WA | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 12,051 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 8,273 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 5,459 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 16,230 |
| TOPANGA CYN CRK | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 204 |
| RED ROCK CRK | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 2,712 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,754 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,326 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 3,858 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,925 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 2,252 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 5,202 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 378 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,853 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 580 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 758 |
| PICKENS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 556 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 384 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 3,366 |
| HALLS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 1,479 |
| HALLS BECKLEY CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 357 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,674 |
| SHEEP CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,500 |
| GRAYSAND CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 7,500 |
| BNSF RY AMTRAK METROLINK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 9,847 |
| ELDER GULCH | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 7,500 |
| REDHILL PARK RESV CHAN | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 20,613 |
| NEWPORT BEACH CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 47,000 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER CHANNEL | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 18,900 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 15,000 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 32,900 |
| SAN TIMOTEO CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50,000 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 44,500 |
| BNSF RY & SCRRA | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 246,000 |
| TOWNSHIP CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 89,000 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 16,800 |
| RANCHO GUAJOME | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 16,315 |
| VAIL CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 1,360 |
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 510 |
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Poor | 1936 | 90 | 800 |
| WEST BRANCH FEATHER R | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| EYE CREEK | California | Good | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Fair | 1936 | 90 | 50 |
| MCNEAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 120 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 2,800 |
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.