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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATE ROUTE 110 | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 32,000 |
| STATE ROUTE 110 | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 7,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 34,816 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,500 |
| N110-FIGUEROA ST OFF-RMP | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 61,500 |
| ARROYO SECO & BIKE PATH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,500 |
| ARROYO SECO | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,300 |
| ARROYO SECO & BIKE PATH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 5,000 |
| ARROYO SECO | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,370 |
| ARROYO SECO | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 9,500 |
| FIGUEROA STREET | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 17,257 |
| FIGUEROA STREET | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 22,850 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 27,454 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 44,000 |
| MILL CRK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 3,162 |
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,755 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 22,154 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,592 |
| SPARR BLVD DRN | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 8,343 |
| SANTA MONICA CYN CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 135 |
| SANTA MONICA CYN CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 135 |
| SANTA MONICA CYN CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 16,239 |
| RUSTIC CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 16,239 |
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 765 |
| UNNAMED WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 510 |
| ARROYO SECO CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 15,500 |
| ARROYO SECO CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 570 |
| NORTH FORK DEEP CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 849 |
| DEL ROSA CHANNEL | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| DEL ROSA STORM DRAIN | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,998 |
| DEL ROSA STORM DRAIN | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 9,832 |
| COPPER BASIN WASH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,500 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 8,000 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 4,653 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,000 |
| LAGUNA CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 6,612 |
| SAN GORGONIO WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 111,000 |
| FORNAT WASH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 45,500 |
| WEST CHANNEL STUBBY WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 45,500 |
| EAST CHANNEL STUBBY WASH | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 45,500 |
| SAN GORGONIO OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 120,000 |
| MARSHALL CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 2,217 |
| SIXTH AVE | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 37,000 |
| SAN DIEGUITO RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 14,500 |
| LIVE OAK CANYON | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,259 |
| S BRANCH CHOLLAS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 12,500 |
| ENCANTO CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 5,743 |
| CHOLLAS CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 21,000 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 10,500 |
| RESERVATION MAIN DRAIN | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,650 |
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.