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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARANSAS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 778 |
| TEN MILE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1952 | 771 |
| DUCK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 729 |
| Richburg Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 726 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 726 |
| SPEAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 724 |
| CIBOLO CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 723 |
| TURKEY CR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 679 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1940 | 616 |
| MEDINA RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1947 | 612 |
| MESA DRAIN | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 610 |
| WHITE ROCK LAKE TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 589 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 576 |
| RICE SPRINGS BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 552 |
| POOLE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 541 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2002 | 537 |
| RICHLAND CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1993 | 536 |
| PONDS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 530 |
| NACENICHE CR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 515 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2021 | 500 |
| COWHOUSE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1952 | 500 |
| ONE MILE CR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 492 |
| HICKORY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 492 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 492 |
| S Palo Duro Cr | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 478 |
| CHOATES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 475 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2010 | 474 |
| NELSON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 456 |
| COOPER DAM EM SPILLWAY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1991 | 419 |
| WHITE OAK CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 413 |
| DEER CREEK(ARROWHEAD LK) | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 400 |
| ATTOYAC RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 399 |
| HACKBERRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 393 |
| Draw | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 389 |
| TOWN BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 379 |
| WOLF CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 372 |
| NINE POINT DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 368 |
| HACKBERRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1960 | 358 |
| PARALLEL CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2018 | 348 |
| GREEN NEAL BR | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 335 |
| Loring Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 329 |
| SOUTH CEDAR CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 317 |
| COON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2003 | 308 |
| GCWA CANAL | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2011 | 308 |
| LONG TOM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1967 | 307 |
| CONCEPCION CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 306 |
| DONAHUE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 297 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 296 |
| MULBERRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1965 | 290 |
| Mulberry Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1935 | 277 |
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.