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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUTTER BYPASS | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 7,600 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,136 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,180 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 389 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,950 |
| COON CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 95 |
| BLUCHER CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 16,550 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 3,200 |
| DUTCH HENRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 4,310 |
| CACHE CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 750 |
| NORTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 29,500 |
| CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 54,658 |
| LINCOLN AVE-N101 ON RAMP | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 180,000 |
| SAN GERONIMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| BNSF RY | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 62,000 |
| BNSF RY AND AMTRAK | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 10,300 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 20,300 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 6,167 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 5,500 |
| SAN PABLO CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,492 |
| SO SAN JOAQUIN IRR CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 18,200 |
| SOUTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 29,500 |
| N. FORK CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 7,000 |
| WARREN CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 237 |
| WEST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 275 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & ACE | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 88,000 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & ACE | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 93,000 |
| SIDEHILL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 3,000 |
| SIDEHILL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 1,500 |
| SIDEHILL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 3,000 |
| SIDEHILL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 3,000 |
| SIDEHILL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 3,000 |
| SALSIPUEDES CREEK | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 10,000 |
| CORRALITOS CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 500 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 30,100 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 500 |
| MADRONE DR | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 59,900 |
| RUNDEL CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 4,000 |
| LLAGAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 11,440 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #6 | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 9,500 |
| UP RR GOLDEN STATE | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 10,000 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #4 | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,849 |
| SOUTH FORK DEADMAN CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 35 |
| DEADMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 56 |
| MILES CREEK | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 1,826 |
| BEAR CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 2,000 |
| BEAR CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 2,000 |
| BEAR CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 2,500 |
| ESCALADIAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 200 |
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.