Scour Critical Bridges in Texas

3,912 bridges in Texas at risk from water erosion around foundations.

Scour Critical Bridges

Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 3,912 bridges in Texas have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear
Bridge State Scour Status Condition Year Built ADT
HUEBNER CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1990 31,680
HENRIETTA CR Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1930 27,805
Draw Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1997 21,396
BRAZOS RIVER Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1994 18,866
YELLOW HOUSE DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1954 14,629
WHITE ROCK CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1974 14,029
Mountain Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1967 9,569
LITTLE NOLAN CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1939 8,887
NAVASOTA RIVER Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1940 7,027
Rocky Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1958 5,088
WILLIAMS CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1931 5,085
MCKIM CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1964 4,992
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1942 4,757
SPRING CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1964 4,698
Cottonwood Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1926 4,614
DEER CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1957 3,770
COTTONWOOD CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1940 3,307
PALO GAUCHO BAYOU Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1964 3,007
Town Branch Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1935 2,970
LITTLE ELM CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1948 2,025
LAMPASAS RIVER Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1966 1,776
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1972 1,472
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1967 1,421
Ditch Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1997 1,235
BROOKEEN CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1951 975
COTTONWOOD CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1958 887
MENARD CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1962 844
WEST OUTFALL DITCH Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1981 818
THEUVININS CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1958 789
SNAKE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1978 774
ASH CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1949 740
Bearpen Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1989 740
LITTLE CYPRESS BAYOU Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1967 677
UNNAMED CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 2021 470
East Amarillo Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1964 405
DRY BRANCH Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1947 400
Drainage Ditch Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1920 376
PECAN CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1955 293
COTTONWOOD CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1956 266
Palo Duro Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1960 196
BEE CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1990 189
LITTLE MINERAL CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 2009 172
DRAW Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1960 137
MIDDLE BOSQUE RIVER Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1987 111
SPRING CREEK Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1997 103
Big Sandy Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1996 100
IRRIGATION CANAL Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1920 100
Chambers Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 2014 100
No Name Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Fair 1960 95
Birch Creek Texas Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 2015 94

Scour Critical Rating Codes

Code 2 — UnaddressedBridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken.
Code 3 — Countermeasures InstalledProtective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical.
Code 6 — Countermeasures IneffectiveProtective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action.

About Scour Critical Bridges

Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.