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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH FORK PUTAH CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 60,500 |
| MAGPIE CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 2,900 |
| UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 11,000 |
| 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH MSSN | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 64,500 |
| BEAVER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,232 |
| BEAVER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 478 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 210 |
| CHEROKEE CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 8,050 |
| WATERMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 7,900 |
| COSGROVE CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,089 |
| WOODS CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 19,900 |
| STATE ROUTE 84 | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 13,500 |
| ARROYO DE LA LAGUNA | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 9,400 |
| SAN GREGORIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,100 |
| BELMONT CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 34,750 |
| WATSONVILLE SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 6,000 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 3,000 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 500 |
| PAJARO RIVER | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 52,000 |
| MILLER SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 15,800 |
| CERES MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 96,000 |
| DUCK SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 20 |
| S FORK DUTCHMAN CREEK | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 35 |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER OVRFLO | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,250 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,300 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,000 |
| SILVER CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 900 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 200 |
| FOWLER SWITCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 300 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 28,100 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,000 |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 800 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 7,200 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 700 |
| WOLF CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,910 |
| CARRIZO CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,900 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 787 |
| SAN JUAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 750 |
| MCKITTRICK WASH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,400 |
| BEARDSLEY CANAL | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 15,000 |
| SALSIPUEDES CREEK | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 669 |
| SANTA PAULA CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 300 |
| BROWN BARRANCA | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 3,742 |
| LONG GRADE CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,000 |
| TOPANGA CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 15,950 |
| SAN GABRIEL RIVER | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 51,000 |
| SAN GABRIEL RIV | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 28,353 |
| RIO HONDO | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 33,974 |
| BIG TUJUNGA CYN | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,370 |
| LAS VIRGENES CR | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,122 |
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.