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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINTERS CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 146 |
| PENNSYLVANIA CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,621 |
| PUTAH SOUTH CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 20,190 |
| BROWNS CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 2,311 |
| MAGPIE CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,000 |
| RINGOLD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 857 |
| HANGTOWN CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9,000 |
| SUTTER CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,734 |
| SAN ANSELMO CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 55 |
| GALLINAS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 8,738 |
| COYOTE CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| AYO CORTE MADERA DEL PRE | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,000 |
| UNNAMED CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| GALINDO CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 450 |
| SAN RAMON CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 2,800 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 150 |
| ITALIAN SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| CONTRA COSTA CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,873 |
| KIRKER CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10,610 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,439 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,165 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 471 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| INDIAN CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,567 |
| CLARKS FK STANISLAUS RIV | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 99 |
| STATE ROUTE 77 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 10,300 |
| ARROYO VIEJO | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 46,294 |
| SAN LORENZO CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,400 |
| STATE RTE 1 (SPANS 4&5) | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 12,666 |
| 280/101 IC - ALEMANY CIR | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 234,000 |
| CORTLAND AVENUE | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 234,000 |
| SB101 BAYSHORE OFF-RAMP | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 12,200 |
| ALEMANY CIR UC (NBD O-R) | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,000 |
| SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 16,957 |
| BEAR GULCH CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,137 |
| BELMONT CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,592 |
| MILLS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18,000 |
| BIG CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| SAN LORENZO RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| SHINGLE MILL GULCH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| HARKINS SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 6,000 |
| UP AMTRAK & PRIVATE RD | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 26,000 |
| MILLER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 10,617 |
| DRY CREEK & MORTON ST | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 16,738 |
| WESTLEY WASTEWAY | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 987 |
| NEWMAN WASTEWAY | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 276 |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,200 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 12,425 |
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.