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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.