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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.I.D. UPPER LATERAL #4 | California | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 1,461 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Poor | 1919 | 107 | 684 |
| M.I.D. MAIN CANAL | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 1,100 |
| WEBBER CANAL | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 28,000 |
| AGUA FRIA CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 180 |
| DRY CREEK CANAL | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 10,400 |
| LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 204 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 520 |
| PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 520 |
| RATTLESNAKE CANYON | California | Fair | 1919 | 107 | 220 |
| BOX WASH | California | Good | 1919 | 107 | 12,300 |
| MOFFETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 94 |
| LITTLE SHASTA RIVER | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 353 |
| W BR CLOVERSWALE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 2,200 |
| MATTOLE RIVER | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 514 |
| NORTH FORK COTTONWOOD CR | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 10 |
| MID FORK COTTONWOOD CRK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 96 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 1,225 |
| SLATE CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 82 |
| SUNSET CANAL | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 9,300 |
| BRANNIN CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 779 |
| SPANISH CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 130 |
| WATSON CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 120 |
| S FK WILLOW CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 56 |
| HAMLIN SLOUGH | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 300 |
| NANCE CANYON | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 300 |
| DURHAM MUTUAL DITCH | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 1,552 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,161 |
| WYANDOTTE CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 60 |
| IRRIGATION LATERAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 20 |
| OREGON GULCH | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 128 |
| SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 5,298 |
| N FK HONCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 1,279 |
| LITTLE CHICO CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 4,000 |
| E BR DURHAM MUTUAL DITCH | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| NANCE CANYON | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 400 |
| E BRANCH WYANDOTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 100 |
| CONCOW CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 5 |
| SOUTH BRANCH BRUSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 2,018 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 15 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 400 |
| SOUTH FORK REEDS CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 570 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 50 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 190 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 80 |
| SUTTER CO EXTENSIONCANAL | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 12,000 |
| CHEROKEE DRAIN | California | Poor | 1920 | 106 | 97 |
| LICHAU CREEK | California | Good | 1920 | 106 | 10,600 |
| GUALALA RIV (CLARK XING) | California | Fair | 1920 | 106 | 800 |
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.