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 SPUR FRUITVALE AVE | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 225,000 |
| CALTRAIN & UP RR | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 30,000 |
| U.S. HIGHWAY 101 | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 53,747 |
| COLMA CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 188,000 |
| AIRPORT BOULEVARD | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 188,000 |
| MILLBRAE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 226,000 |
| SAN BRUNO CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 10,100 |
| SOQUEL CREEK WHARF RD | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 97,000 |
| WADDELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 4,800 |
| CORRALITOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 22,000 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 64,000 |
| COYOTE CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 64,000 |
| COYOTE ROAD | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 64,000 |
| COYOTE ROAD | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 64,000 |
| FISHER CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 5,536 |
| CANADA DE LOS OSO | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 810 |
| PACHECO CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 60 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,810 |
| FRANKLIN SLOUGH | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 28,000 |
| WEBBER CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 28,000 |
| LOS BANOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,650 |
| ASHE DRAIN | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 28,000 |
| ASHE DRAIN | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 28,000 |
| CORBET CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 150 |
| MARIPOSA CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 200 |
| COLONY MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 3,025 |
| HELM CANAL | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 3,500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 4,375 |
| ENTERPRISE CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 7,900 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 5,835 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,000 |
| BALD MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 200 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 500 |
| FANCHER CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 900 |
| HERNDON CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 300 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 100 |
| LOS AGUILAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 800 |
| FINCH CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 290 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 150 |
| CALERA CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 5,700 |
| LAS GAZAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,600 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,270 |
| ST JOHNS RIVER | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 1,000 |
| WHITE RIVER | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,025 |
| SPEAR CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 200 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 150 |
| TULARE IRRIG DIST CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 1,800 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 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.