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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YERBA BUENA CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| ATASCADERO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,500 |
| TORO CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 262 |
| SEE CANYON CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| SAN SIMEON CREEK TRIB | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 30 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 59,000 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,700 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,450 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 660 |
| KERN ISLAND CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,133 |
| GRAPEVINE CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| EAST SIDE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,300 |
| FRIANT-KERN CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,650 |
| EAST SIDE CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 300 |
| MISSION CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18,200 |
| SAN JOSE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| ARROYO LAS POSAS | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,100 |
| SHEKELL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,400 |
| J STREET DRAIN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,000 |
| J STREET DRAIN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,000 |
| OXNARD WEST DRAIN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,740 |
| ROUTE 5 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,820 |
| ROUTE 5 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 52,020 |
| BROADWAY-N101 ON-RAMP | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 15,000 |
| GLENDALE BLVD | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 265,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 14,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 50,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,000 |
| HELIOTROPE DR | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 175,000 |
| MELROSE AVE | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 175,000 |
| MELROSE AVE | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 117,500 |
| NORMANDIE AVE | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 175,000 |
| ROUTE 101 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 37,500 |
| U.S. HIGHWAY 101 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 48,000 |
| 1ST STREET | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 270,000 |
| 2ND STREET | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 270,000 |
| S101-LOS ANGELES ST OFF | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,000 |
| US 101 ON-RAMP | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,000 |
| KENMORE AVE SD | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 154,000 |
| COMPTON CRK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18,631 |
| COYOTE CRK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,556 |
| LIVE OAK WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 23,192 |
| UPRR | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9,476 |
| PALO VERDE STORM DN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 29,786 |
| EATON WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 9,042 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 26,141 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 26,141 |
| LITTLE DALTON WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 7,100 |
| LIVE OAK WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 12,240 |
| LIVE OAK WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 667 |
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.