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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,800 |
| LIVINGSTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 14,695 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 561 |
| SAN LUIS WASTEWAY | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 6,331 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 830 |
| LATERAL #6 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 40 |
| LIVINGSTON CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 620 |
| FAIRFIELD CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,569 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 10 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 101 |
| OUTSIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 103 |
| MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 45 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 223 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 315 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 180 |
| SAN JUAN CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 327 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 181 |
| SAND SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 267 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 660 |
| BULL CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK MERCED RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 190 |
| MARIPOSA CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,080 |
| LITTLE FINE GOLD CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| BERENDA CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 159 |
| NORTH FORK WILLOW CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,600 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 105 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 65 |
| RYAN CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 70 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| SQUAW CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,675 |
| KINGSBURG CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,250 |
| STINSON CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 5,400 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,100 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,700 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| FANCHER CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,700 |
| TRAVERS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 240 |
| GOULD CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 700 |
| GOULD CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| (WAHTOKE) DIVERSION CHAN | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 870 |
| GOULD CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| MURPHY SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| CRESCENT DITCH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 75 |
| BURREL DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| LIBERTY DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
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.