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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNION SCHOOL SLOUGH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 77 |
| BRETONA CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 75 |
| WILLOW SPRING CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 160 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 494 |
| SLOUGH S7 | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 204 |
| SLOUGH S3 | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 650 |
| GORDON SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| SOUTH FORK PUTAH CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 59,500 |
| GEORGIANA SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 252 |
| HAGGINWOOD CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 13,699 |
| CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 25,101 |
| LAGUNA CREEK | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,530 |
| LAGUNA CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,025 |
| CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,300 |
| ARCADE CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 22,851 |
| MORRISON CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,795 |
| N FORK COSUMNES RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,491 |
| CANYON CREEK | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 250 |
| HANGTOWN CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,100 |
| JACKSON CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 9,200 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 225 |
| SAN ANSELMO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,000 |
| PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 32,500 |
| KELLOGG CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 13,637 |
| WILDCAT CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 13,993 |
| ARROYO DEL HAMBRE | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,000 |
| SAN RAMON CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 16,200 |
| ARROYO DEL HAMBRE | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 3,000 |
| OIL REFINERY PIPE UC | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 4,386 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,000 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 545 |
| SIX MILE CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,500 |
| FRENCH GULCH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 84 |
| SAN DOMINGO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 84 |
| ANGELS CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,032 |
| WEST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,150 |
| EAST FORK CARSON RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 490 |
| MIDDLE FK STANISLAUS RIV | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 99 |
| ALGERINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 263 |
| SONORA CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,000 |
| ARROYO MOCHO | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 40,300 |
| LION CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 20,904 |
| ARROYO DEL VALLE | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 19,250 |
| POMPONIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 6,100 |
| BEAN CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,500 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| LITTLE CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 240 |
| LOMPICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,000 |
| LOMPICO CREEK | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 78,000 |
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.