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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| Coachella Canal Turnout | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| J CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 380 |
| ELK CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 565 |
| PRICE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 118 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 160 |
| OLNEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 23,000 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 234 |
| CROWLEY GULCH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,723 |
| LUDWIG GULCH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,206 |
| ALICE CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,577 |
| JANEEN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| CHURN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| DEEP HOLE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,632 |
| OLNEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| SOUTH FORK BLUE TENT CRK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 19,500 |
| BIGGS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 36,500 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,000 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,000 |
| RED BANK CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 11,199 |
| UNNAMED SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| NEVADA CREEK | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| JUDD CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 154 |
| EAST BURCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 231 |
| WEST BURCH CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 231 |
| BUTT RESERVOIR SPILLWAY | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| SPANISH CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 7,350 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,800 |
| RODEO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 860 |
| NORTH FORK GUALALA RIVER | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 97 |
| SALT HOLLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,439 |
| COLEMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 72 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER OVFL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,400 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 370 |
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 381 |
| BUTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 93 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 249 |
| COLUSA DRAIN | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 64 |
| DRUMHELLER CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 130 |
| AFTON DRAIN | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 207 |
| HAMBRIGHT CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 373 |
| DRAIN A | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 62 |
| DEAD DOG DRAW | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 165 |
| CORBIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 563 |
| STONY CREEK IRRG CANAL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,448 |
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.