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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIBBONS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1958 | 660 |
| WALLER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2001 | 660 |
| W. HICKORY CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1949 | 653 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 650 |
| JACOBIA BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1953 | 649 |
| N HICKORY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 648 |
| BROWNLEE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 646 |
| RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1925 | 645 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 640 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1960 | 640 |
| BRUSHY CRK REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 640 |
| BRUSHY CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 640 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 640 |
| WEST CADDO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1960 | 640 |
| RAYMONDVILLE DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 635 |
| ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 629 |
| BARNETT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1996 | 628 |
| DENTON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 628 |
| WILDCAT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 626 |
| ARNOLD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1993 | 624 |
| LITTLE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1954 | 624 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1955 | 624 |
| BOIS DARC CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1988 | 620 |
| BOIS DARC CREEK REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 620 |
| VADEN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1995 | 620 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1975 | 617 |
| LITTLE CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1963 | 615 |
| EAST FORK POST OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1985 | 610 |
| FANNIN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1969 | 610 |
| CANEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 609 |
| TRIB NORTH BOSQUE RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1920 | 609 |
| SCHOOLEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 608 |
| REDDING CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1991 | 608 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1949 | 606 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1942 | 602 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1957 | 601 |
| COFFEE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1994 | 601 |
| SHOOK BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1970 | 600 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1990 | 600 |
| BIG GULCH GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1993 | 600 |
| CANEY CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 600 |
| Hondo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2022 | 600 |
| KIRKPATRICK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1925 | 598 |
| MOORE CR RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1921 | 598 |
| CLENDINING CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 598 |
| MIDDLE CADDO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1959 | 598 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1978 | 598 |
| MINNAS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1931 | 597 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 595 |
| YORK CREEK TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 592 |
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.