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.

Clear
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.