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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOGEL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1979 | 3,500 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 3,500 |
| CCDD NO. 5 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 3,488 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 3,488 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 3,486 |
| DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1935 | 3,479 |
| CHOCTAW CRK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1935 | 3,479 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 3,464 |
| BLACK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 3,464 |
| MERCEDES MAIN CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 3,462 |
| GOOSE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 3,460 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1957 | 3,449 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1957 | 3,449 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1957 | 3,449 |
| FRIO RIVER OVERFLOW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1957 | 3,449 |
| HUNT CROSSING | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 3,440 |
| Ditch M | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 3,424 |
| LITTLE MILL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2004 | 3,421 |
| Pecan Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 3,420 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 3,419 |
| BEAR PEN CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1967 | 3,419 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 3,403 |
| WHITE ROCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1959 | 3,398 |
| WHEELER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1952 | 3,395 |
| Duck Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 3,391 |
| HIDALGO W MAIN DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1989 | 3,389 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1963 | 3,372 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1927 | 3,372 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1970 | 3,370 |
| LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 3,366 |
| BIG CYPRESS CREEK SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 3,366 |
| BIG CYPRESS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1957 | 3,366 |
| ROSILLO CRK W TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2014 | 3,362 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 3,357 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 3,357 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1955 | 3,357 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1955 | 3,357 |
| R.O.W. | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 3,335 |
| Cottonwood Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2020 | 3,324 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 3,320 |
| VINCE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1976 | 3,320 |
| Willow Bayou | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 3,317 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 3,310 |
| BERRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1978 | 3,310 |
| N HICKORY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 3,309 |
| BIG SANDY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 3,307 |
| OYSTER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 3,300 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 3,296 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 3,296 |
| BIG CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 3,296 |
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.