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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOMINGUEZ CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 26,500 |
| SANTA CLARA RIV / SPTC | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,550 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 42,930 |
| SANTA ANITA WASH | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 6,331 |
| SPRING CYN WASH | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 4,811 |
| COMPTON CRK | California | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 23,426 |
| EAGLE CYN CHAN | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 842 |
| SAWTELLE-WESTWOOD CH | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 12,800 |
| PACOIMA WASH | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 67,300 |
| EAST FORK CITY CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 12,000 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 31,153 |
| CITY CRK FLOOD CONTROL | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 11,500 |
| TEVIOT DITCH | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 502 |
| WARM CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 15,400 |
| CHINO CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 17,000 |
| BLAISDELL CANYON | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 9,500 |
| WINDY POINT CANYON | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 16,000 |
| FLATBUSH WASH | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 2,700 |
| RANGE CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 24,378 |
| TEMESCAL CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 20,000 |
| LINCOLN DRAIN DITCH | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 7,576 |
| "C" CANAL | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 3,000 |
| BUENA VISTA CREEK | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,550 |
| AGUA CALIENTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,700 |
| SAN FELIPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 1,850 |
| YUIMA CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 7,300 |
| LOMA ALTA CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 42,600 |
| LAWSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 852 |
| ESCONDIDO CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 39,100 |
| ESCONDIDO CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 15,200 |
| REIDY CREEK | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 8,000 |
| LINDA VISTA WASH | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 19,332 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 7,700 |
| TRIFOLIUM CANAL | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 7,350 |
| NEW RIVER | California | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 1,500 |
| Delta-Mendota Canal | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 200 |
| Friant-Kern Canal | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| Friant-Kern Canal | California | Good | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| BLUE CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Poor | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| UPPER CHINQUAPIN | California | Fair | 1948 | 78 | 50 |
| MUGU LAGOON | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| MUGU LAGOON | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| HUNTER CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,110 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| CAMP CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,085 |
| KLAMATH RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 710 |
| LAWRENCE CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 28 |
| FRESHWATER CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 172 |
| SOUTH DOBBYN CREEK | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 85 |
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.