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
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Poor 1949 77 25
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 42
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 42
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 5
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 125
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 590
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 620
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 420
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 150
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 100
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 75
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 59
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 300
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 300
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 1,300
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 175
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 200
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 600
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 375
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 200
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 325
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 350
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 250
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 100
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 275
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 535
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 75
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 75
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 350
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 400
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 150
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 150
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 750
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 475
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 1,175
SOUTH BRANCH TULE RIVER California Good 1949 77 75
NORTH BRANCH TULE RIVER California Good 1949 77 50
SOUTH BRANCH TULE RIVER California Good 1949 77 375
N BRANCH TULE RIVER California Good 1949 77 375
LEWIS CREEK California Good 1949 77 250
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Fair 1949 77 150
WUTCHUMNA DITCH California Fair 1949 77 725
DEEP CREEK California Good 1949 77 220
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 225
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 350
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 275
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 100
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 125
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 325
FRIANT-KERN CANAL California Good 1949 77 375

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.