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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REDWOOD CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,750 |
| SALT RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 246 |
| SOCTISH CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 437 |
| SUPPLY CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 69 |
| REDWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 113 |
| RANGER FLAT DRAW | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 122 |
| WILLIAMS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| MIDDLE WEAVER CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| CARR CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 330 |
| POTATO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| PRICE CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 15 |
| VAN DUZEN RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| DUTTON CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| CLARK CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| CANYON HOLLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,728 |
| A.C.I.D. CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,110 |
| FALL RIVER | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| ANDERSON CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,161 |
| TOYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,000 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| ASH CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| SPRING GULCH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,750 |
| LITTLE TULE RIVER | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| A.C.I.D. CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 641 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 641 |
| CHURN CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| A.C.I.D. CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,180 |
| WHITEHEAD SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| ELDER CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| THOMES CREEK BRANCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,640 |
| DIGGER CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| E BR N FK FEATHER RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| COOKS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 240 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 3,100 |
| WINDEM CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 406 |
| DAVIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,648 |
| GLENN-COLUSA CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 85 |
| CENTRAL IRRIGATION CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 303 |
| HOWARD SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 93 |
| GRINDSTONE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 396 |
| ANGEL SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 176 |
| CLARKS VALLEY CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 55 |
| SHOAT DRAW | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 280 |
| STONY CREEK IRRG CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| STONY CREEK IRRG CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| DRAIN A | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 310 |
| ORTIZ DRAIN | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 13 |
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.