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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW RIVER | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| ASH CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 205 |
| GREESON WASH | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| NEW RIVER | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 500 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| RESERVATION MAIN DRAIN | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 51 |
| CENTRAL DRAIN | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 626 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 80 |
| GREESON WASH | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 300 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 1,100 |
| EL TORO CREEK | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 100 |
| DALTON CANYON | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| DALTON CANYON | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| N.FORK RATTLESNAKE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| MCCLOUD RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| CLARK FORK OF STANISLAUS | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 350 |
| CHEROKEE CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| UPPER CLEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 30 |
| CRYSTAL CREEK | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 20 |
| DRAINAGE CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 3,000 |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER | California | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 50 |
| FORK DRIVE | California | Good | 1940 | 86 | 10 |
| Shasta Lake | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 19,500 |
| EEL RIVER & NWP RR | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,150 |
| EEL RIVER | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,400 |
| SACRAMENTO RIV OVRFLO #1 | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,552 |
| SACRAMENTO RIV OVRFLO #2 | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 6,472 |
| SACRAMENTO RIV OVRFLO #4 | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,472 |
| PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,069 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| TRAVIS SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 150 |
| GREENHORN CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,425 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 280 |
| SCHOONER GULCH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,900 |
| COLUSA DRAIN | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 44 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,553 |
| PRINCETON-CODORA CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 166 |
| MIDDLE HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 11,700 |
| NORTH HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 11,700 |
| CAMP CREEK | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 20 |
| SERENITY DITCH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 100 |
| SOUTH HONCUT CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 9,700 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 110 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 8,450 |
| FRASIER CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 250 |
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.