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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANDERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1956 | 536 |
| SANDERS CRK REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1969 | 536 |
| EAST BRUSHY CREEK REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2006 | 534 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 533 |
| WHITE ROCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2009 | 529 |
| MUD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1985 | 528 |
| Lake Apache | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 527 |
| TRIB ROCKY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 525 |
| DOCTORS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 522 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 518 |
| BIG SKID CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1971 | 512 |
| CALIFORNIA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1971 | 512 |
| PEVELER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 512 |
| HCFCD DITCH M124-00-00 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2009 | 510 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1963 | 508 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1985 | 505 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1958 | 504 |
| DETENTION BASIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 500 |
| GUM BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1986 | 500 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1985 | 500 |
| MASON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2013 | 500 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 500 |
| HCFCD DITCH U106-10-00 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 500 |
| DETENTION BASIN | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2012 | 500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2007 | 500 |
| HCFCD U106-10-00 | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2003 | 500 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1965 | 500 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2006 | 500 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 500 |
| NICHOLS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1978 | 500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2001 | 500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2008 | 500 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2014 | 500 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2014 | 500 |
| LITTLE VINCE BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2003 | 500 |
| LIVE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1988 | 500 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2016 | 500 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1998 | 500 |
| SULFUR BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2004 | 500 |
| ALLIGATOR CRK N.MC. | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1962 | 499 |
| SOUTH SULPHUR REL | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1949 | 498 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1930 | 497 |
| HICKORY CRK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1949 | 496 |
| Spring Creek Relief | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1949 | 492 |
| Short Creek | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1949 | 492 |
| Spring Creek Relief | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2002 | 492 |
| SPRING CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 492 |
| POST OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2007 | 489 |
| SPRING CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1975 | 485 |
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.