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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLLIDAY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1987 | 4,939 |
| SPRING CREEK TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 4,922 |
| Drainage Ditch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1950 | 4,913 |
| Drainage Ditch | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1958 | 4,913 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1958 | 4,901 |
| DITCH A | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 4,900 |
| Taylor Slough | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1996 | 4,885 |
| HOOKER CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1959 | 4,884 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 4,874 |
| WHEELER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 4,812 |
| SAN PEDRO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2022 | 4,810 |
| BEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 4,803 |
| WOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1942 | 4,757 |
| TRIB W FORK TRINITY RIV | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1940 | 4,748 |
| Leona River | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1995 | 4,727 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2010 | 4,726 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2010 | 4,726 |
| RED GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 4,724 |
| ROCK CREEK RELIEF #2 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 4,720 |
| ROCK CREEK RELIEF #3 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 4,720 |
| ROCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 4,720 |
| W FK SAN JACINTO RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 4,707 |
| W FK SAN JACINTO S REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1997 | 4,707 |
| W FK SAN JAC RI N REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 4,707 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 4,689 |
| LITTLE SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 4,680 |
| YELLOW STEER SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 4,680 |
| CLEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1954 | 4,676 |
| TRIB OF FURNEAUX CR | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1983 | 4,670 |
| JONES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 4,658 |
| BRAZOS RIVER RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 4,658 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1977 | 4,653 |
| GARRETT CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1948 | 4,650 |
| GARRETT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1948 | 4,650 |
| LITTLE CEDAR BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 4,629 |
| CARRIZO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 4,625 |
| CHOCTAW CRK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1934 | 4,620 |
| LAKE CREEK SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 4,601 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 4,601 |
| FARBER BR | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 4,600 |
| COPELAND DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 4,589 |
| IRON ORE CRK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1934 | 4,585 |
| N MAIN DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1987 | 4,581 |
| COPPER BRANCH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1928 | 4,571 |
| VINCE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1998 | 4,560 |
| WALNUT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 4,557 |
| FARBER BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1986 | 4,550 |
| GIBBONS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1936 | 4,546 |
| WALLER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1936 | 4,546 |
| LITTLE WICHITA RIVER REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1928 | 4,542 |
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.