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.

Clear
Bridge State Condition Year Built Age (Years) ADT
KEYS CANYON California Fair 1947 79 6,567
SAN FELIPE CREEK California Fair 1947 79 6,150
LONE TREE WASH California Good 1947 79 7,350
GREESON WASH California Poor 1947 79 550
Friant-Kern Canal California Fair 1947 79 50
BIG TUJUNGA CREEK California Good 1947 79 10
NORTH FORK SAND CREEK California Fair 1947 79 50
BEAR CREEK California Poor 1947 79 50
DISTRICT #2 CANAL California Fair 1948 78 200
DISTRICT #2 CANAL California Poor 1948 78 200
Delta-Mendota Canal California Good 1948 78 1,680
MAD RIVER California Good 1948 78 4,775
SALT CREEK California Fair 1948 78 495
HAYFORK CREEK California Good 1948 78 330
ANDERSON CREEK California Fair 1948 78 9,800
A.C.I.D. CANAL California Fair 1948 78 9,800
LITTLE COW CREEK California Good 1948 78 168
A.C.I.D. CANAL California Fair 1948 78 46,000
SALT CREEK California Fair 1948 78 10
THOMES CREEK California Fair 1948 78 200
ELDER CREEK California Fair 1948 78 200
JEWETT CREEK California Fair 1948 78 245
JEWETT CREEK California Fair 1948 78 200
CHAMBERLAIN CREEK California Fair 1948 78 2,600
PARSONS CREEK California Fair 1948 78 515
CRAWFORD CREEK California Fair 1948 78 777
BUSCH CREEK California Fair 1948 78 440
SOUTH FORK NOYO RIVER California Fair 1948 78 125
SACRAMENTO RIVER California Poor 1948 78 2,400
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 30
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 236
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 1,731
CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL California Fair 1948 78 427
PROVIDENT CANAL California Fair 1948 78 928
CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL California Fair 1948 78 634
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 140
SALT CREEK California Poor 1948 78 300
SHOAT DRAW California Fair 1948 78 168
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 150
GLENN-COLUSA CANAL California Fair 1948 78 497
BR SUTTER BUTTE CANAL California Fair 1948 78 1,659
COYOTE CREEK California Fair 1948 78 9,000
DRY CREEK California Good 1948 78 1,630
BEST SLOUGH California Fair 1948 78 1,630
NORTH FORK AMERICAN RIV California Good 1948 78 9,000
ALDER CREEK California Fair 1948 78 115,000
DEER CREEK OVERFLOW California Fair 1948 78 11,050
DEER CREEK California Fair 1948 78 11,050
DEER CREEK OVERFLOW California Good 1948 78 11,050
HORSE CREEK California Good 1948 78 7,409

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.