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.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JERNIGAN CREEK RELIEF #1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 5,190 |
| JERNIGAN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2016 | 5,190 |
| SMALL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1928 | 5,188 |
| JOHNS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 5,168 |
| DOCTORS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 5,168 |
| SOUTH NOLAN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1961 | 5,150 |
| NORTH FLOODWAY CHANNEL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 5,150 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Chan | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 5,113 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Chan | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 5,113 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Chan | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 5,113 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Chan | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2007 | 5,113 |
| CHOCTAW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 5,101 |
| CHOCTAW CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1999 | 5,101 |
| BRAYS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1951 | 5,100 |
| BRAYS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1951 | 5,100 |
| TRINITY RIVER REL #1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 5,066 |
| LAKE ROBBINS | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1996 | 5,061 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1967 | 5,038 |
| FREDERICK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 5,028 |
| RED FISH SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 5,018 |
| HUNTING BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1967 | 5,010 |
| HUNTING BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1967 | 5,010 |
| SABINE RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1996 | 5,005 |
| GREENS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1978 | 5,000 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 5,000 |
| WOODLANDS WATERWAY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 5,000 |
| HORSEPEN BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1993 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH M | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1992 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1981 | 5,000 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1969 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1950 | 5,000 |
| GREENS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1998 | 5,000 |
| GREENS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1998 | 5,000 |
| HORSEPEN BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 5,000 |
| GREENS BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1978 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1981 | 5,000 |
| HCFCD DITCH M | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1992 | 5,000 |
| PANTHER BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1996 | 5,000 |
| PANTHER BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 5,000 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2007 | 5,000 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 5,000 |
| PEACH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1970 | 4,980 |
| WHEELER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1976 | 4,971 |
| WOLF CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1934 | 4,969 |
| LITTLE TIMBER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1934 | 4,969 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1956 | 4,962 |
| WILLOW WATERHOLE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1964 | 4,960 |
| WILLOW WATERHOLE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1964 | 4,960 |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective 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.