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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CURTIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 783 |
| ALAMEDA CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 98,000 |
| LINCOLN BLVD | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 90,932 |
| TOLL PLAZA UNDERCROSSING | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 90,932 |
| PESCADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 720 |
| PESCADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 620 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 12,100 |
| RODEO GULCH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 18,900 |
| APTOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,730 |
| GUADALUPE RIVER | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 134,000 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #4 | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 16,804 |
| MOORE CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 610 |
| 2ND LIFT CANAL | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 125 |
| GRANT CANAL | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 210 |
| CALIFORNIA VINYARD DITCH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,000 |
| CASTRO CANYON | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,150 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,650 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 100 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER CANAL # 2 | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,160 |
| CROSS CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,160 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 3,600 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 225 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 240 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 625 |
| BISHOP CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 4,550 |
| POSO CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,250 |
| STINE CANAL | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 4,139 |
| CARPINTERIA CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 17,400 |
| TODD BARRANCA | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 300 |
| TODD BARRANCA | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 850 |
| BALLONA CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 50,000 |
| RIO HONDO | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 44,100 |
| SAN GABRIEL RIV | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 44,300 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 23,298 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 17,934 |
| COMPTON CRK | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 10,710 |
| BALLONA CR | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 22,838 |
| OLD TOPANGA CRK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,712 |
| OLD TOPANGA CRK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,712 |
| HAY CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 4,080 |
| BALLONA CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 15,078 |
| BALLONA CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 42,792 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,703 |
| SHIELDS CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 703 |
| ALHAMBRA WASH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 18,656 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 525 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 34,854 |
| HAINES CANYON CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,885 |
| EATON WASH | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 50,760 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 102,000 |
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.