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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNNAMED WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 18,616 |
| COMPTON CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 20,000 |
| TUJUNGA WASH LAUREL CNYN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 64,551 |
| TUJUNGA WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 31,600 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 5,850 |
| ALISO CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 41,691 |
| TUJUNGA WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,918 |
| LOS ANGELES RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 18,649 |
| SAWPIT WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 16,799 |
| SAWPIT WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 2,705 |
| DEL AMO BLVD CHAN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 32,035 |
| LOS ANGELES RIV | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 77,480 |
| DAGGETT WATERWAY | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 2,928 |
| MOREY ARROYO 1 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20,000 |
| MOREY ARROYO 2 | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 20,000 |
| MISSION STORM DRAIN | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25,135 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 140 |
| DEL ROSA CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,300 |
| WILSON CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1 |
| MOJAVE RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 405 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 26 |
| FEDERAL STORM CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 45,000 |
| BREA CREEK CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,205 |
| COYOTE CREEK CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 24,000 |
| FULLERTON CREEK CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 25,000 |
| SAN JOAQUIN CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 15,500 |
| LANE CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 32,500 |
| LANE CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 38,200 |
| SAND CANYON CHANNEL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 27,700 |
| EAST GG-WINTERSBURG CHAN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 30,000 |
| EAST GG-WINTERSBURG CHAN | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 4,000 |
| "D-10" CANAL | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,000 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 57,200 |
| LA SIERRA CHANNEL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 24,000 |
| DRY WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 242 |
| WHITEWATER RIVER | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 8,700 |
| ALMAR DITCH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,000 |
| SAN PASQUAL CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 12,400 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 4,300 |
| SAN ELIJO LAGOON TRIB | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,948 |
| SO FORK KEYS CANYON | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,233 |
| SAN PASQUAL VALLEY CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,000 |
| BOLAS CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 47,900 |
| SAN LUIS REY TRIBUTARY | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 250 |
| ARROYO SALADA WASH TRIB | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 1,100 |
| SAN FELIPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 1,200 |
| "X" DRAIN | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| MARSHY WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| KUEHN DRAW WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| CHICO WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
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.