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
UP RR & AMTRAK California Good 1942 84 16,116
KEMP CANYON CREEK California Good 1942 84 620
JOLON CREEK California Good 1942 84 1,800
TEMBLADERO SLOUGH California Fair 1942 84 200
KEMP CANYON CREEK California Good 1942 84 1,900
KINGS RIVER California Poor 1942 84 7,700
SWEET CANAL California Fair 1942 84 1,500
INSIDE CREEK California Good 1942 84 930
HOMELAND CANAL California Poor 1942 84 175
HOMELAND CANAL California Poor 1942 84 175
KERN AVE CHORRO CREEK California Fair 1942 84 19,000
E BRANCH HUER HUERO CRK California Good 1942 84 535
SALSIPUEDES CREEK California Fair 1942 84 669
CALLEGUAS CREEK California Fair 1942 84 6,700
AMADOR STREET California Fair 1942 84 183,000
STATE ROUTE 110 NB California Good 1942 84 12,000
STADIUM WAY California Good 1942 84 183,000
STATE ROUTE 110 NB & RMP California Good 1942 84 1,000
SOLANO AVENUE California Fair 1942 84 183,000
STATE ROUTE 110 SB California Good 1942 84 1,000
CITY TERRACE DRAIN California Good 1942 84 30,500
GRAVEYARD CYN CRK California Good 1942 84 2,000
GLENDALE 2ND TOLUCA California Good 1942 84 26,407
LOS CERRITOS DRN CHAN California Good 1942 84 31,800
LOS ANGELES RIV California Poor 1942 84 34,736
SUSANA CYN CRK California Fair 1942 84 2,000
GREENLEAF CYN CRK California Good 1942 84 204
HORSE CYN CRK California Good 1942 84 2,000
5TH ST California Good 1942 84 7,931
SMITH CREEK California Good 1942 84 2,040
STATE ROUTE 163 California Good 1942 84 10,900
STATE ROUTE 163 California Fair 1942 84 29,356
CHOLLAS CREEK California Fair 1942 84 16,480
COTTONWOOD CREEK California Good 1942 84 4,300
DESCANSO CREEK California Good 1942 84 1,600
MYER CREEK California Good 1942 84 7,105
EUREKA CREEK California Poor 1942 84 50
PIT RIVER/SHASTA LAKE California Fair 1942 84 50
BRANCH OF HUTCHINSON CRE California Fair 1942 84 4,100
REEDS CREEK TRIBUTARY California Poor 1942 84 50
REEDS CREEK TRIBUTARY California Poor 1942 84 50
DRAINAGE DITCH California Fair 1943 83 1,000
DRAINAGE DITCH California Fair 1943 83 1,000
Shasta Dam Spillway California Good 1943 83 100
OWL CREEK California Fair 1943 83 450
EUREKA SLOUGH California Fair 1943 83 17,000
COLD FORK COTTONWOOD CRK California Fair 1943 83 20
PINE CREEK OVERFLOW California Good 1943 83 11,700
BIG BUTTE CREEK OVERFLOW California Fair 1943 83 930
AMERICAN CANYON CREEK California Fair 1943 83 48,000

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.