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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEAR CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 3,256 |
| Blackland Gully | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1991 | 3,233 |
| CIWA CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1970 | 3,195 |
| Maxey Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2003 | 3,175 |
| GUADALUPE RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 3,153 |
| LITTLE WHITE OAK BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 3,115 |
| ALAMO ALTO DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2011 | 3,095 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 3,065 |
| MONTOYA DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1984 | 3,065 |
| LONG CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 3,017 |
| JENKINS BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1979 | 2,987 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 2,843 |
| COLE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 2,842 |
| KIOWA BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 2,827 |
| E FORK TRINITY RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 2,805 |
| SHILOH BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 2,735 |
| SPRING GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 2,715 |
| FIVE MILE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 2,650 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 2,533 |
| WAXAHACHIE CR TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 2,497 |
| PADILLA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1940 | 2,448 |
| THREEMILE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1997 | 2,422 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 2,370 |
| QUICKSAND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 2,309 |
| CUMMINGS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 2,305 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 2,300 |
| NUECES RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 2,256 |
| TRIB OF JOHNSON CR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2008 | 2,200 |
| HUNT BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2014 | 2,168 |
| HEATH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1997 | 2,102 |
| SOUTH SULPHUR RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 2,101 |
| Floyd Branch | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2014 | 2,070 |
| DRY BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 2,052 |
| RICKETTS BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 2,044 |
| KELLNER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 2,025 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 1,966 |
| TRIB OF ROCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 1,962 |
| SANTA ISABEL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1999 | 1,930 |
| SALT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 1,912 |
| BEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 1,879 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1988 | 1,827 |
| NEBLETT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 1,774 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 1,740 |
| TEN MILE CREEK TRIBUTARY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 1,740 |
| LITTLE FOSSIL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 1,721 |
| BILOXI CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2019 | 1,700 |
| S FK WILLIS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 1,670 |
| SAN FELIPE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,649 |
| Medina River | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 1,642 |
| STEPHENS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 1,640 |
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.