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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.