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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERDUGO WASH | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,326 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 14,800 |
| DRN CHAN | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 31,091 |
| BIG DALTON WASH | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 35,490 |
| DOUGLAS PUC N | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 35,616 |
| MOJAVE RIVER | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,919 |
| NEEDLES FLOOD CONTROL CH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 5,141 |
| SANTIAGO CREEK CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 27,600 |
| FULLERTON DAM DIV CHAN | California | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 10,400 |
| BLUE RIDGE WASH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 35,190 |
| INDIAN WASH | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,498 |
| CHIHUAHUA CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 1,700 |
| S BRNCH SANTA YSABEL CRK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 3,150 |
| WEST RINCON CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 10,800 |
| QUAIL CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 676 |
| MYER CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 7,105 |
| MYER CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 7,105 |
| MYER CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 7,105 |
| MCCLOUD RIVER/SHASTA LK. | California | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| DIDALLIS CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| WEST FORK DIDALLIS CREEK | California | Good | 1941 | 85 | 50 |
| KESWICK DAM SPILLWAY | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 1,000 |
| STANSHAW CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 330 |
| SANDY BAR CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 330 |
| A.C.I.D. CANAL | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 23,000 |
| OREGON GULCH | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 23,000 |
| CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 23,000 |
| NORTH FORK ELDER CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 80 |
| SOUTH FORK ELDER CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 90 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,218 |
| MILL CREEK BRANCH | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 40 |
| MIDDLE FORK ELDER CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 500 |
| MCNAB CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 13,800 |
| ROSETTI CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 13,800 |
| CRAWFORD CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 13,800 |
| WALKER CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 3,050 |
| MAIN DRAINAGE CANAL | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 89 |
| SULPHUR SPRING VALLEY CR | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 5,681 |
| UP RR BNSF RY NORTHGATE | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 26,500 |
| UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 1,020 |
| ROCKY CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 22,300 |
| MOKELUMNE RIVER | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 15,000 |
| ZAYANTE CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 2,000 |
| ZAYANTE CREEK | California | Good | 1942 | 84 | 2,000 |
| MARIPOSA CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 6,600 |
| PITMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 200 |
| FRESNO CANAL | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,200 |
| HOUGHTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 340 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 200 |
| LIBERTY DITCH | California | Poor | 1942 | 84 | 300 |
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.