California Bridge Designs

Last modified: April 21, 2002

1910's - 1950's

1918 bridge
Old concrete rail from the 1918 Arroyo Hondo bridge north of Santa Barbara, once part of US 101.

Bonsall Bridge
This "mission" or concrete arch style of rail was used at least as far back as the 1920s, and in a modified form up to the late 1950s. Above is the old Bonsall Bridge, near Oceanside, built over the San Luis Rey River in 1925. It was originally part of US 395, then CA 76. It was abandoned in the early 1990s when a replacement was built. This shot was taken in 1974.

1926 rail
A bridge with this style on old US 101 in Agoura Hills, built 1926 (thanks to Casey Cooper for this photo).

Oso Creek on old 101
The date of construction was often embedded in the old bridges.  Starting in the late 1950s, the date was just stenciled on in paint. This is the Oso Creek overcrossing on old US 101 (Camino Capistrano) in Mission Viejo.

I-5 at Sand Cyn, 1991
The newest version of this style, used in the late 1950s, was more squared. This is the old Sand Canyon Rd bridge on I-5 in Irvine, replaced in the 1990s.
Pasadena Freeway - Late 1930's to 1940

110 / College overpass  Numbered exit sign
For the Arroyo Seco Parkway, now the Pasadena Freeway, the bridge designs were a bit more distinctive. This is the College Street overpass, built in 1939. Over the years the Pasadena Freeway has been signed US 6, US 66, CA 11, and is now CA 110. This was one of the few places in California where exits were numbered until the state started a new numbering program in late 2001.

110 / Ave 60 overpass
Avenue 60 overpass on the Pasadena Freeway, built in 1940.

110 / Ave 43 interchange
Avenue 43 exit from the northbound Pasadena Freeway. This is the on and off ramp, basically a right turn on or off the freeway.  There are stop signs at the end of the on ramps on this freeway due to there being very little merging room.

More Pasadena Freeway views
1920's - 1940's

Wood Rail
Wood rails were also used in the 1920s to 1940s. This bridge was built in 1935, and is on old US 99E near Olivehurst. Note that the road striping is white for the passing direction, rather than yellow. This striping convention went away in the early 1970s. Scan from Brian Green.
1940's & 1950's

4 Level interchange   CA 71 over Santa Ana R., 1950
Caltrans
In the 1940s and 1950s, this metal rail was used. There were two variations on this, one with a flat top, and later, one with a curved top, supposedly to discourage kids from walking on top of it.
I-5 at 1st St, 1991   I-5 over CA 55, 1991
Two views of the rail with the curved top. These are from Interstate 5 at CA 55, and were replaced in the early 1990's when this mid-1950's interchange was rebuilt.

Unusual 40s/50s design
California Highways & Public Works
Here's an unusual style also used in the 1940's and 1950's.
1960's

CA 480   I-10 LA
From the late 1950s to the late 1960s, this concrete-frame-with-round-bar design was used.
US 101, SF   I-15 Barstow
Left: US 101 Central Skyway, San Francisco.
Right: I-15 over the Mojave River, Barstow (this bridge was replaced in 2000).

double tube style   double tube
On bridges where pedestrians may walk, a double rail was used.

Rounded style   Rounded style
Bridges on Interstate 280 in the Bay Area use a rounded base design.
Late 1960's - mid 1970's

Laguna Cyn Rd at 405 Laguna Cyn Rd over 405
CA73 at CA55
I-10 Indio CA73 at 55
I-15 at I-10
This design, which in my opinion had the best aesthetics, started to show up in the late 1960s. I have seen this referred to as "Wyoming rail". This style replaced the round bar with a flat rail, and was used until the mid 1970s. There were two variations on this design, one had a flat bottom where the rail support attaches to the concrete, the other used a "U" shaped rail support.

I-10 Indio I-210
On the bridge approach, the rail flares in from the shoulder. Beginning in the 1990's, Caltrans has been replacing the approach rail outside the bridge with standard guardrail, so this setup is getting rare.
Late 1970's - Present

Antioch Bridge 110-105
In the mid-1970's metal railing stopped being used (except in rare cases when it is used on top as shown here) and was replaced with a solid "Jersey barrier" style. The photo to the left is the Antioch Bridge on CA 160, near Stockton, CA., and the photo on the right shows I-110 at I-105 in Los Angeles.
Retro and Unique designs

New rail on the 4 Level
In the late 1990's the 1950's style rail on the 4 Level Interchange was replaced with a concrete siding. The outside has a 1920's style "mission arch" embedded in it.

Reconstructed I-5 at Lincoln

Reconstructed I-5 at Katella
The Interstate 5 reconstruction through Anaheim has a unique style.

CA76 rail
A unique rail style is used on the new CA 76 expressway near the San Luis Rey mission in Oceanside. Thanks to Oscar Voss for this photo.
© 1997-2002 Mark Furqueron