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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAIN A | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 395 |
| WILSON CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 491 |
| HAMILTON SLOUGH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 11,050 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 11,600 |
| PENSTOCK UC | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,350 |
| HAMILTON SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 800 |
| WILSON CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| WILSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 948 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,500 |
| LIVE OAK SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 110 |
| MAIN DRAIN | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 513 |
| WESTERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| SOUTH BRANCH CARMAN CRK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 670 |
| MIDDLE BRANCH CARMAN CRK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 670 |
| NORTH BRANCH CARMAN CRK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 670 |
| WOODRUFF/ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| ADOBE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 23 |
| BARTLETT CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 108 |
| HUNTERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| SOUTH HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 150 |
| BEAR RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,650 |
| SOUTH WOLF CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 146 |
| PHEASANT CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 55 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 95 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CR BRANCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 790 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 90 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 43 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CNL S BRNCH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 690 |
| SUTTER CO EXTENSION CNL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 509 |
| ORCHARD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,724 |
| MINERS RAVINE | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 12,779 |
| MCKINNEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,409 |
| MCKINNEY CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,409 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 450 |
| WASHINGTON BLVD | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11,029 |
| WASHINGTON BLVD | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,400 |
| UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 785 |
| YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,800 |
| BIG YANKEE SLOUGH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 15,500 |
| TYLERS DRAINAGE | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 21,000 |
| HOBSON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10,000 |
| PORTER CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,400 |
| SANTA ROSA CREEK RSEVR | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,000 |
| LYNCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 11,600 |
| NO NAME CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 615 |
| MARIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,200 |
| SOUTH FORK GUALALA RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| NAPA RIVER OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 161 |
| ADAMS DITCH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 23,500 |
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.