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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLK ST | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,561 |
| SULPHUR SPRING VALLEY CR | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,578 |
| DONAHUE ST/N. BRIDGE BLD | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 106,000 |
| PINE CANYON CR | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 2,700 |
| ARROYO SECO RIVER | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 640 |
| SALINAS RIVER | California | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 2,200 |
| S BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 980 |
| N BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 980 |
| ELK BAYOU | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 200 |
| SOUTH BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 275 |
| WOOD CENTRAL DITCH | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 100 |
| POSO CREEK | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 300 |
| BRANCH CANYON | California | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 4,500 |
| SALISBURY CANYON | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 4,500 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 1,003 |
| UP RR & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 371 |
| CHESEBRO CYN CRK | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,479 |
| DAY CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 226,300 |
| ARLETTA DITCH | California | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 502 |
| CAHUILLA CREEK | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 7,600 |
| MTDB LRT BNSF RY & SDIV | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 19,075 |
| CALLAN ROAD | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 21,800 |
| WITHERBY STREET | California | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 58,000 |
| PACIFIC HIGHWAY | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 21,546 |
| SCHOLDER CREEK | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 129 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 696 |
| MOOSA CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 6,100 |
| MISSION KNOLL CREEK | California | Good | 1943 | 83 | 22,900 |
| ELK CREEK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 21,500 |
| HAWES GULCH | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 3,380 |
| ALBION RIVER | California | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 2,100 |
| SOUTH FORK EEL RIVER | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 700 |
| BASALT ROAD | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 24,500 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER SR 84 | California | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 20,100 |
| E37 - COLUMBUS PARKWAY | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 133,000 |
| WEST CHANNEL ROAD | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 5,681 |
| MT DIABLO CRK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 7,200 |
| SOUTH BRANCH MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 21,900 |
| LOVE CREEK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 5,000 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 58 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 2,505 |
| MAXWELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 120 |
| FRIANT-MADERA CANAL | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 6,200 |
| MADERA CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 68 |
| C & K CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 1,880 |
| 3RD LIFT CANAL | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 125 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 75 |
| RAG GULCH | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 8,500 |
| SANTA YNEZ RIVER | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 9,900 |
| LA RIV SCRRA UPRR AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 92,500 |
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.