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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOMPICO CREEK | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,000 |
| CARNADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 26,000 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 150 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 675 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 2,184 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,216 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,580 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 124 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| SALT SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 105 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 453 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| BERENDA CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 56,000 |
| LIBERTY DITCH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,600 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,240 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| MURPHY SLOUGH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| GRANT CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| WAHTOKE CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| C & K CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 600 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| PAJARO RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 10,600 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 12,900 |
| TULE RIVER OVERFLOW #1 | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 21,500 |
| TULE RIVER OVERFLOW #2 | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 21,500 |
| N BRANCH TULE RIVER | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 21,500 |
| ELK BAYOU | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 23,500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,800 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 5,500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 6,975 |
| PEOPLES DITCH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,300 |
| KAWEAH RIVER | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,150 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 665 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,100 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 385 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,700 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,290 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 965 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 510 |
| HORSEMAN DITCH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 1,500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,650 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 400 |
| HICKMAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 3,200 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 100 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 25 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
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.