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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 36,252 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 408 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 510 |
| SDBI 133 | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 28,620 |
| 116TH ST STORM DRN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 43,918 |
| MAHER CYN CR | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 2,550 |
| NELSON CYN WASH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 2,550 |
| LA CIENEGA BLVD UC | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 39,269 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 21,518 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 6,180 |
| BURBANK WESTERN CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 3,570 |
| EVANS WASH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 102 |
| SAN MRTNZ GRANDE CYN CRK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 204 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 20,856 |
| SOUTH BRANCH BELL CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 16,246 |
| SEPULVEDA CHAN | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 23,963 |
| STORM DRN #133 | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 612 |
| HILLSIDE | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,160 |
| ELDER GULCH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 10,900 |
| EMPIRE CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 163,000 |
| NOE WASH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,700 |
| MECCA WASH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 2,700 |
| LINCOLN DRAINAGE DITCH | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 4,400 |
| "C" CANAL | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 430 |
| HAZY DITCH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 8,601 |
| REE LINE DITCH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 4,961 |
| SWEETWATER RIVER | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 3,200 |
| AL BAHR DRIVE | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 200 |
| CASTELLANA ROAD | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 10 |
| SAN CLEMENTE CANYON | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 23,560 |
| RAINBOW CREEK | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 4,725 |
| CONDIT DITCH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,200 |
| BONDIT DITCH | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 1,200 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 560 |
| Delta-Mendota Canal | California | Good | 1949 | 77 | 5 |
| ELK CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| DUCK LAKE CREEK | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| PINCHARD CREEK | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| E.FK. OF N.FK. AMERICAN | California | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| N. FK. OF N. FK AMER RIV | California | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| WEST BRANCH MILL CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| EAST FORK MILL CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| FIRST GULCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| EAST FORK MILL CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| WEST BRANCH MILL CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| BUMMER LAKE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| JANE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| EAST FORK MILL CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| ASH CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 23 |
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.