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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRAWLEY WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| PHIL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| CATTAIL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| BUG WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| GRAVEL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| NILAND CREEK | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SALT WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SKEE WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| POLO WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SIGNAL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SAND WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| WISTER WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| LEVEL WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| BUTTER WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| FLY WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| ZIGZAG WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| CEDAR WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| ED WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SY WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| BEE WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| CLAM WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| SHLITZ WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| RAY WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| CLAY WASH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| ALKY WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| REED WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| PIKE WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| WIND WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,650 |
| OTEN WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| PACIFIC WASH | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| FRINK WASH OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| FRINK WASH | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| LUENTO WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| KEN WASH | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 3,600 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 11,714 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| ALAMO RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 52 |
| RESERVATION MAIN DRAIN | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 200 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 25 |
| CENTRAL MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 100 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
| ALAMO RIVER | California | Good | 1950 | 76 | 900 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 80 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 66 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 60 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 109 |
| WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1950 | 76 | 743 |
| EAST HIGHLINE CANAL | California | Poor | 1950 | 76 | 50 |
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.