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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRONGS CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 11,988 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 250 |
| SYDNEY GULCH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,946 |
| BROWNS CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| BURNEY CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 3,600 |
| WEST BRANCH BURNEY CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 9,800 |
| A.C.I.D. CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 3,830 |
| PIT RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 750 |
| REEDS CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,500 |
| SOUTH FORK COTTONWOOD CR | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| THOMES CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 210 |
| PAYNES CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| E BR N FK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| NAVARRO RIVER | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,100 |
| NAVARRO RIVER | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 418 |
| MASONITE HAUL ROAD | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 8,701 |
| FORSYTHE CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20,200 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 928 |
| PROVIDENT CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 168 |
| BUTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 12,054 |
| BIG CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 15,000 |
| DURHAM MUTUAL DITCH | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 130 |
| CROSS CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 18,750 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,032 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,032 |
| RUSSIAN RIVER - JIMTOWN | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,300 |
| SONOMA CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 9,700 |
| GREEN VALLEY CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| NAPA CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 33,500 |
| TULUCAY CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 27,000 |
| WILLOW SPRING CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,176 |
| LEDGEWOOD CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 87,500 |
| LEDGEWOOD CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 4,622 |
| OLD ALAMO CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 352 |
| SOUTH FORK PUTAH CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,279 |
| THREE MILE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 14,300 |
| PLACERVILLE RD OLD RR | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 41,500 |
| SOUTH FORK JACKSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 800 |
| SAN PABLO CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 552 |
| DUTCH SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 188 |
| CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 35,500 |
| STOCKTON DIVERTING CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 83,000 |
| STATE ROUTE 99 SB | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5,100 |
| MORMON SLOUGH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 87,000 |
| STOCKTON CHANNEL | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 7,000 |
| MORMON SLOUGH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 12,500 |
| MURRAY CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,364 |
| UTILITY TUNNEL & PUC | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 265,000 |
| ZAYANTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,000 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 400 |
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.