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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 29,000 |
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 8,656 |
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 7,250 |
| ALL AMERICAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 15,343 |
| CENTRAL (BRIAR) CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 5,811 |
| EAST ASH CANAL | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 14,295 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL #2 | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 2,850 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| COSUMNES RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 25 |
| AMERICAN RIVER | California | Good | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| DINKEY CREEK | California | Poor | 1938 | 88 | 110 |
| HAYPRESS CREEK | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| S. FK. YUBA RIVER | California | Fair | 1938 | 88 | 50 |
| Galinda Creek | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2 |
| OHMAN CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 690 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 330 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 13,986 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 4,570 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,100 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,100 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,100 |
| NORTH FORK MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 150 |
| JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 200 |
| SHORT CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 289 |
| N FORK STONEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 60 |
| MAPLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,050 |
| SHEARING CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,050 |
| ORNBAUN CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,050 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,300 |
| MOAT CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,900 |
| JACK PETERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 9,900 |
| RUSSIAN GULCH | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 9,900 |
| UP RR & BNSF RY | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 7,491 |
| JORDAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 194 |
| LATERAL "A" DRAIN | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 780 |
| GRAIN SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,139 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 330 |
| SECRET RAVINE | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 2,595 |
| SONOMA CR (GLEN ELLEN) | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 6,300 |
| SYCAMORE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 860 |
| WINTERS CANAL | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 374 |
| SUTTER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,913 |
| SOUTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 6,113 |
| GOAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,120 |
| ELDER CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 19,665 |
| EAST BRANCH LAGUNA CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 14,664 |
| CARSON CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 72,000 |
| SOUTH FK AMERICAN RIVER | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,055 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 10,900 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 9,000 |
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.