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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BERGER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1951 | 843 |
| DRY ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 843 |
| CANEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1976 | 842 |
| CCID #1 DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2010 | 838 |
| SHOOTER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1966 | 838 |
| HAMMOND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1962 | 837 |
| EAST CADDO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1982 | 830 |
| BRANCH OF CUTHAND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 826 |
| BRUSHY ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1965 | 826 |
| TONKAWA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 824 |
| CHOCTAW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1963 | 820 |
| BOIS DARC CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1985 | 819 |
| DENTON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 817 |
| BRADEN BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1962 | 817 |
| LOW LINE CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 816 |
| BRUSHY ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 815 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1956 | 811 |
| SANDY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 811 |
| WILLACY MAIN CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1956 | 805 |
| AUDS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 804 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 800 |
| BEAR BRANCH TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1992 | 800 |
| LILLYS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1931 | 799 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1968 | 794 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1968 | 794 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1998 | 794 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1931 | 794 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1968 | 794 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 793 |
| LITTLE POST OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1966 | 788 |
| LANDERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1926 | 787 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1999 | 781 |
| FARMERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 774 |
| BIG PINE CREEK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2000 | 768 |
| BIG PINE CREEK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 768 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 762 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 762 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 762 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 762 |
| WILDHORSE BRANCH # 1 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1925 | 761 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 760 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1976 | 758 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1976 | 758 |
| PENNYS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1954 | 755 |
| BRADEN BRANCH TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 755 |
| CASE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1956 | 754 |
| Holiday Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 753 |
| ONION CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 752 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 752 |
| LITTLE ONION CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1929 | 752 |
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.