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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.