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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITE RIVER | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 200 |
| WHITE RIVER | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 75 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 420 |
| TULARE IRRIG DIST CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 75 |
| WHITE RIVER | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 300 |
| CAMERON CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 500 |
| VILLA CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 9,500 |
| SANTA ROSA CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 128 |
| STENNER CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 50 |
| FREEMAN GULCH | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 4,400 |
| BRANCH TEHACHAPI CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 42,400 |
| POSO CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 90,000 |
| BEARDSLEY CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 4,300 |
| BUENA VISTA CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 1,400 |
| EAST SIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 3,600 |
| NORTH FORK MATILIJA CRK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 570 |
| SOLSTICE CANYON CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 29,750 |
| MISSION RD-E10 ON-RAMP | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 140,000 |
| MISSION RD-E10 ON-RAMP | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 140,000 |
| 1ST STREET | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 140,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 50,000 |
| I- 5 N5-N101 S101-S5 | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 19,500 |
| ROUTE 5 | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 12,500 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 5,500 |
| INTERSTATE 710 | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 35,000 |
| UP RR & N103-FORD AV OFF | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 14,427 |
| ANAHEIM STREET OH | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 14,427 |
| TRAIL CYN | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 510 |
| E10-VALLEY BLVD OFF-RAMP | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 85,000 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 5,700 |
| CITY CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 12,000 |
| ETIWANDA WASH | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 117,000 |
| UP RR SPUR | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 195,000 |
| SAN SEVAINE CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 195,000 |
| LOWER DEER CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 22,691 |
| SANTIAGO CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 55,000 |
| SANTIAGO CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 1,000 |
| LADD CANYON | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,000 |
| SILVERADO CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,000 |
| SILVERADO CANYON CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 2,000 |
| SILVERADO CANYON CREEK | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 2,000 |
| COACHELLA CANAL | California | Poor | 1947 | 79 | 11,250 |
| COACHELLA CANAL | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 721 |
| COLEMAN CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 4,400 |
| STATE ROUTE 163 | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 28,400 |
| CAMPO CREEK | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 1,950 |
| STATE ROUTE 163 | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 2,900 |
| 6TH AVE-N163 ON RAMP | California | Good | 1947 | 79 | 95,000 |
| DULZURA CREEK | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 7,800 |
| SWEETWATER RIVER | California | Fair | 1947 | 79 | 2,500 |
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.