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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOULTON SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 6,630 |
| N BRA LAG DE SANTA ROSA | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 5,000 |
| NATHANSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 750 |
| TULUCAY CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 22,850 |
| GARNETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 1,000 |
| WELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 16,700 |
| GRIFFITH CREEK | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 4,300 |
| WINDMILL DRAW | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 4,300 |
| ROLLING DRAW | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 4,300 |
| SKUNK CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 4,300 |
| CARSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 100 |
| DEER CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 3,062 |
| SAN FRANCISCO BAY | California | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 2,000 |
| STEVENS CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 16,409 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 250 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 205 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 190 |
| MATADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 205 |
| SNAKE RAVINE | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 1,550 |
| QUARTZ LEDGE CREEK | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 1,550 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 7,573 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 716 |
| ROCK CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 959 |
| ROCK CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Poor | 1918 | 108 | 716 |
| INGRAM CREEK | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 459 |
| LONE TREE CREEK | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 350 |
| ARROYO CANAL | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 5,200 |
| AX CANAL | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 2,050 |
| SWEET CANAL | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 2,060 |
| SOUTH FORK PEOPLES DITCH | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 670 |
| LAST CHANCE DITCH | California | Fair | 1918 | 108 | 4,650 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 7,907 |
| SANTIAGO CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1918 | 108 | 37,000 |
| PIT RIVER | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 202 |
| RICE CREEK | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 982 |
| SOUR GRASS CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 982 |
| MOORE CREEK | California | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 982 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER OVFL | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 2,400 |
| WHITE CABIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 351 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 843 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,460 |
| BIRD CREEK | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 1,196 |
| ECKLEY SLIDE | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 470 |
| LAS TRAMPAS CREEK | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 17,700 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 2,350 |
| HICKS CREEK | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 280 |
| ALAMITOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 230 |
| LLAGAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 240 |
| M.I.D. CANAL LATERAL 4 | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 11,900 |
| T.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 4,088 |
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.