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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEENEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 81,500 |
| SWEENEY CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 60,000 |
| MC CUNE CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 81,500 |
| MC CUNE CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 60,000 |
| N160-DEL PASO OFF LRT | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 18,000 |
| STATE ROUTE 160 | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 6,000 |
| ARDEN WAY | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 127,000 |
| P G AND E CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 12,700 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 2,090 |
| LAS TRAMPAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 625 |
| ANGELS CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 7,900 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 289 |
| KINGS SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,650 |
| KINGS SLOUGH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,650 |
| MOWRY DRAW | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,650 |
| RABBIT DRAW | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,650 |
| OFFSET DRAW | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 5,650 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,800 |
| CRESCENT DITCH | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 850 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,200 |
| GRANT CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 234 |
| GRANT CANAL (E DITCH) | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 200 |
| PANOCHE CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 800 |
| CARMEL RIVER | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,100 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 1,725 |
| TRAVER DITCH | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 175 |
| CAMERON CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 1,275 |
| DEEP CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 75 |
| CACHE CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 20,000 |
| SAN JOSE CREEK | California | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 60,500 |
| GLEN ANNIE CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 65,000 |
| SYCAMORE CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 6,000 |
| SANTA PAULA CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 100 |
| LAS LLAJAS CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 3,000 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 35,638 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 25,758 |
| INDIAN CYN CRK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 1,204 |
| MULBERRY CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 195,000 |
| TRABUCO CREEK CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 34,000 |
| COACHELLA CANAL | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 4,300 |
| SAMAGATUMA CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 5,900 |
| MATAGUAL CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 2,850 |
| CANADA VERDE CREEK | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 1,700 |
| SAN DIEGO RIVER | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 148,000 |
| DESCANSO CREEK | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 3,200 |
| STATE ROUTE 163 | California | Fair | 1946 | 80 | 3,040 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | California | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| KINGS RIVER | California | Poor | 1946 | 80 | 115 |
| N.FK. OF MID.FK.AMERICAN | California | Good | 1946 | 80 | 50 |
| NCTD RAILWAY | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 10,675 |
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.