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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2019 | 1,620 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2008 | 1,565 |
| MANADAS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2008 | 1,554 |
| BANITA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,553 |
| LITTLE COW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 1,519 |
| STONEBRIAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 1,448 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 1,410 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 1,408 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1995 | 1,370 |
| COON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 1,349 |
| NEMEXAS DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 1,330 |
| ATTOYAC RIVER RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 1,322 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 1,313 |
| BR FARMERS CK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1935 | 1,297 |
| MIDDLE SULPHUR RIV | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 1,274 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,247 |
| SHORES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 1,240 |
| East Amarillo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1997 | 1,224 |
| MUDDY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,206 |
| HUTCHINS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1933 | 1,201 |
| MCGRAW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 1,200 |
| COOMBS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1969 | 1,184 |
| FRANKLIN CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1979 | 1,180 |
| CARRIZO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,173 |
| WAXAHACHIE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 1,164 |
| MCCOMMAS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 1,146 |
| LOCO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 1,144 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 1,100 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 1,095 |
| MILL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 1,078 |
| San Pedro Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2020 | 1,074 |
| CHAPMAN BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 1,035 |
| SOUTH PRONG CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1951 | 1,035 |
| RAGSDALE CR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 1,010 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1997 | 1,000 |
| East Amarillo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 986 |
| FRESH WATER BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 981 |
| FRIO RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2000 | 965 |
| JACK CREEK RELIEF | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 944 |
| Rankin Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 923 |
| KENNEDY GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1997 | 901 |
| HCFCD DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1963 | 900 |
| CHOCTAW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 895 |
| THEUVININS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2008 | 879 |
| POST OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 877 |
| LITTLE PINEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 860 |
| MOCCASIN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2013 | 840 |
| SOUTH FORK CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1988 | 805 |
| PAULS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 780 |
| W TEHUACANA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1959 | 778 |
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.