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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 850 |
| LIME CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,000 |
| WEST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,200 |
| WEST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 2,200 |
| I 80 EB OFFRMP 4 &2 ST | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 50,000 |
| ARROYO DE LA LAGUNA | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 13,500 |
| UTILITY TUNNEL & PUC | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 134,264 |
| OAKLAND ESTUARY | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 19,900 |
| SAN LEANDRO CREEK | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 7,991 |
| ARROYO MOCHO | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 18,200 |
| WEST PACIFIC AVE | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 64,000 |
| KOBBE AVE HITCHCOCK ST | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 64,000 |
| SCOTT CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,800 |
| ZAYANTE CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 5,800 |
| BRANCIFORTE CREEK | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 1,800 |
| PACHECO CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 30,750 |
| SOUTH FORK PACHECO CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 30,750 |
| SARATOGA CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,650 |
| BODFISH CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 70 |
| BODFISH CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 70 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 4,500 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 534 |
| M.I.D. LATERAL #4 | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 3,091 |
| FRESNO RIVER | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 8,425 |
| MUSTANG CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,308 |
| POSO CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 10,300 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 10,300 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 10,300 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,600 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 320 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 1,000 |
| FRESNO CANAL | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 700 |
| MILL DITCH | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 200 |
| WRISTEN CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 400 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 600 |
| WUTCHUMNA DITCH | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 6,800 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,800 |
| WHITE RIVER | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 180 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 510 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 600 |
| ALTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 800 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Poor | 1939 | 87 | 25 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 375 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 250 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 50 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 2,275 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 1,450 |
| KINGSBURG CANAL | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 75 |
| CROCKER CUT | California | Fair | 1939 | 87 | 900 |
| PASO ROBLES CREEK | California | Good | 1939 | 87 | 31,000 |
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.