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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L A RI RR CENTER MISSION | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 137,000 |
| ROUTE 101 NBND | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 50,000 |
| SAN FRANCISQUITO CYN CRK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 1 |
| SAN FRANCISQUITO CYN CRK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 4,458 |
| SAN FRANCISQUITO CYN CRK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 4,458 |
| KITT HWY USN RR | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 41,000 |
| LAKE FULMOR | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 1,836 |
| BANNER CREEK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 138 |
| CEDAR CREEK | California | Good | 1944 | 82 | 77 |
| HARBISON CYN CREEK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 220 |
| DOG CREEK | California | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 50 |
| HAYFORK CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 330 |
| OREGON GULCH | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 3,728 |
| ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 200 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 647 |
| SWALLOW DRAIN | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 45 |
| COLUSA DRAIN | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 113 |
| PRINCETON-CODORA CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 316 |
| COLUSA DRAIN | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 8 |
| ANDERSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 104 |
| LIVE OAK CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 391 |
| COON CREEK | California | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 209 |
| SAGE CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,125 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| ARCADE CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 80,000 |
| STRONG RANCH SLOUGH | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 47,689 |
| LAGUNA CREEK | California | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 400 |
| E.I.D. CANAL | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 780 |
| SQUAW HOLLOW CREEK | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,985 |
| SOUTH FORK COSUMNES RIV | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 56 |
| SSJID CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 2,375 |
| SULLIVAN CREEK | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 1,800 |
| ISLAIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 50,000 |
| FISHER CREEK | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 160 |
| T.I.D. CERES MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 250 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 80 |
| EL CAPITAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 300 |
| EL CAPITAN CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 500 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 95 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 265 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 158 |
| CROSSCUT CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| CRESCENT DITCH | California | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 50 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 485 |
| REEDLEY MAIN CANAL | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 325 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Poor | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 300 |
| 3RD LIFT CANAL | California | Good | 1945 | 81 | 250 |
| CRESCENT DITCH | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 120 |
| STINSON CANAL | California | Fair | 1945 | 81 | 100 |
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.