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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CABLE CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 21,102 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 25,200 |
| HANDY CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,000 |
| SNOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 9,500 |
| EL CASCO CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 98,000 |
| CHOLLAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 18,545 |
| NCTD BNSF RY AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 8,600 |
| SOUTH FORK TUOLUMNE RIVE | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 2,041 |
| Boca Dam Spillway | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 185 |
| SCOTT RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 6 |
| BUTLER CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 101 |
| All American Canal | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 13,200 |
| All-American Canal | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 400 |
| ALTURAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 800 |
| BRIDGE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 565 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,836 |
| REDWOOD CREEK (REDWAY) | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 260 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,750 |
| E FK OF N FK TRINITY RIV | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 15 |
| LAKE BRITTON | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 1,700 |
| BAILEY CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| NORTH FORK BATTLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| SUSAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 21,500 |
| COLD FORK COTTONWOOD CRK | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 20 |
| SINGER CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 60 |
| MOLLER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 40 |
| SOUTH FORK JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,510 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 660 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 824 |
| CAMPBELL CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| CAMPBELL CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| HALL CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 194 |
| MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 35 |
| GARCIA RIVER | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 2,100 |
| ELK CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,100 |
| JUG HANDLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10,350 |
| EEL RIVER | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 860 |
| CON CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 72 |
| BUTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 320 |
| MAIN DRAINAGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,308 |
| BIG CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 7,600 |
| RUDY CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 860 |
| BRNCH SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 100 |
| HAMILTON SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 80 |
| LINWELLS DRAIN | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 105 |
| DURHAM SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 88 |
| DOWNIE RIVER | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,200 |
| NORTH FORK YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 500 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 3,300 |
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.