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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 150,000 |
| STATE ROUTE 82 | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 38,000 |
| UNIVERSITY AVE | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 22,000 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 23,509 |
| LLAGAS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,710 |
| LLAGAS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,380 |
| CALABAZAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,000 |
| LLAGAS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 180 |
| HUNTING HOLLOW CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 120 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,000 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,000 |
| LIVINGSTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,090 |
| DUCK SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,511 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,177 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 727 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 610 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,272 |
| LATERAL #5 | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 65 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 125 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 266 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 110 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 643 |
| HIGH LINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 263 |
| LIVINGSTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 448 |
| ESCALADIAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 86 |
| ESCALADIAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 123 |
| CANAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 477 |
| DEANE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| LE GRAND CANAL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 332 |
| COLONY MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| SOUTH DUTCHMAN CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,000 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,200 |
| HILDRETH CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,200 |
| BERENDA CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 65 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| C & K CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 900 |
| JACALITOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 290 |
| RIVERDALE DITCH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| ENTERPRISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 800 |
| ENTERPRISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 800 |
| HOUGHTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 700 |
| FRESNO CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 400 |
| FRESNO CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| MILL DITCH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,300 |
| RIVERDALE DITCH | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 200 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| ALTA EAST BRANCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 2,900 |
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.