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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 1,670 |
| RESACA DEL RANCHO VIEJO | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2005 | 1,670 |
| SCOTT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1962 | 1,669 |
| HOCKLEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1962 | 1,669 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1973 | 1,666 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1971 | 1,666 |
| MC GRATH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1998 | 1,651 |
| GOUCHY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 1,648 |
| TR SPRING CK/PRINGLE CK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1935 | 1,648 |
| BOIS DARC CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 1,646 |
| BRICKHOUSE GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1962 | 1,640 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2018 | 1,628 |
| NUECES RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2014 | 1,624 |
| BOGGY CREEK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 1,623 |
| Coon Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 1,622 |
| Cottonwood Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 1,622 |
| Coon Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2015 | 1,622 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1925 | 1,617 |
| OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1925 | 1,617 |
| PARADISE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1931 | 1,616 |
| CHOCTAW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1930 | 1,616 |
| WEBB CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1961 | 1,615 |
| OSO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 1,614 |
| FIRST CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1975 | 1,614 |
| CALDWELL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1955 | 1,610 |
| CANEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1955 | 1,610 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1947 | 1,610 |
| GRASSHOPPER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 1,608 |
| LITTLE VINCE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1986 | 1,600 |
| DUCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 1,600 |
| MINERAL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1956 | 1,596 |
| WHITE OAK CRK REL #1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 1,587 |
| WHITE OAK CRK REL #2 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 1,587 |
| EAST LANGFORD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1936 | 1,582 |
| BIG FOSSIL CR | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1961 | 1,577 |
| HOLLIDAY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 1,560 |
| Dry Comal Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2020 | 1,552 |
| WILLIAMSON BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1938 | 1,550 |
| BOGGY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1992 | 1,546 |
| Buffalo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 1,541 |
| PECAN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1954 | 1,541 |
| ARROYO COLORADO | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 1,525 |
| CIBOLO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 1,518 |
| FESSENDEN BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,515 |
| PONDS CREEK DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1999 | 1,512 |
| DOCTORS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 1,511 |
| CUTHAND CRK REL. | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1949 | 1,510 |
| MCCOY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1949 | 1,510 |
| Seabourne Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 1,504 |
| DEEP BRANCH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 1,504 |
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.