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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
BNSF RY & AMTRAK California Fair 1939 87 24,433
SANTA YNEZ RIVER California Fair 1939 87 8,500
VENTURA RIVER California Fair 1939 87 2,600
ARROYO CONEJO California Good 1939 87 30,050
RAMP STONEY ARROYO SECO California Good 1939 87 130,000
UP RR AMTRAK METROLINK California Fair 1939 87 69,500
STATE ROUTE 110 California Good 1939 87 2,000
ST RTE 110 & ARROYO SECO California Good 1939 87 10,000
STATE ROUTE 110 California Fair 1939 87 12,000
STATE ROUTE 110 California Good 1939 87 8,000
STATE ROUTE 110 California Good 1939 87 12,000
STATE ROUTE 110 California Good 1939 87 11,000
STATE ROUTE 110 California Good 1939 87 2,000
LOS ANGELES RIV California Good 1939 87 16,274
VERDUGO WA California Good 1939 87 37,044
ARROYO SECO CHAN California Good 1939 87 1,262
ARROYO SECO CHAN California Fair 1939 87 1,793
PINE CYN CRK California Good 1939 87 816
RUBIO WASH California Fair 1939 87 4,998
SIERRA MADRE WASH California Good 1939 87 232
SIERRA MADRE WASH California Fair 1939 87 1,428
ARROYO SECO CHANNEL California Good 1939 87 15,900
ARROYO SECO CHANNEL California Good 1939 87 32,700
ARROYO SECO CHANNEL California Good 1939 87 4,001
APPIAN WAY / PROMENADE California Poor 1939 87 727
ETIWANDA WASH California Fair 1939 87 117,000
SAN ANTONIO CREEK CHAN California Good 1939 87 24,700
MOJAVE RIVER OVERFLOW California Fair 1939 87 3,400
MOJAVE RIVER California Fair 1939 87 5,541
SANTIAGO CREEK CHANNEL California Poor 1939 87 31,600
BREA CANYON CHANNEL California Good 1939 87 20,709
BREA CREEK CHANNEL California Fair 1939 87 2,000
BREA CREEK CHANNEL California Good 1939 87 30,500
TEMECULA CREEK California Good 1939 87 20,553
WHITEWATER RIVER OVERFLO California Good 1939 87 9,690
MID FK SAN TIMOTEO CREEK California Good 1939 87 50
WARDLOW WASH California Fair 1939 87 2,000
LA JOLLA AMAGO CREEK California Good 1939 87 2,050
LUKET CREEK California Good 1939 87 2,050
ALVARADO CANYON CREEK California Fair 1939 87 175,000
ROSE CANYON CREEK California Fair 1939 87 58,500
ALL AMERICAN CANAL California Good 1939 87 7,900
ASH MAIN CANAL California Good 1939 87 14,295
HEMLOCK MAIN CANAL California Fair 1939 87 2,800
CANYON CREEK California Fair 1939 87 100
CASCADE CREEK California Fair 1939 87 2,530
TAMARACK CREEK California Fair 1939 87 2,530
WILDCAT CREEK California Fair 1939 87 2,530
SMITH RIV SOUTH BANK RD California Fair 1940 86 6,500
MATHEWS CREEK California Good 1940 86 120

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.