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 | 500 |
| DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| ALTA EAST BRANCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| ALTA EAST BRANCH CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,500 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| 2ND LIFT CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 400 |
| CRESCENT DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| TEQUISQUITA SLOUGH OVFL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 6,500 |
| GRISWOLD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| NACIMIENTO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| N FORK LITTLE SUR RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| S FORK LITTLE SUR RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| TULARCITOS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,600 |
| HITCHCOCK CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,700 |
| HITCHCOCK CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,700 |
| ROBINSON CANYON RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| CACHAGUA CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 660 |
| CARNEROS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,800 |
| CARNEROS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,200 |
| CHOLAME CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 210 |
| CHOLAME CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| SAN LORENZO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,300 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| N FK LEWIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| N FORK LEWIS CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| KINGS RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,317 |
| LEMOORE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,344 |
| LAKESIDE DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,375 |
| TULARE LAKE CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| TULARE LAKE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20 |
| PORTER SLOUGH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 7,200 |
| KETCHUM DI | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,150 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 125 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| LEWIS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 600 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 500 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 150 |
| SAND CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 250 |
| ALTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 250 |
| MILL CREEK DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| WUTCHUMNA DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,420 |
| TULARE IRRIG DIST CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| ALTA CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,300 |
| DEEP CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,961 |
| TULARE IRRIG DIST CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 8,600 |
| GREEN CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| BRANCH OF LAS TABLAS CRK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| HUER HUERO CREEK | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 1,198 |
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.