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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1981 | 264 |
| Dry Ecleto Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2021 | 252 |
| BESSIES CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 250 |
| ELIZABETH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1989 | 243 |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2002 | 242 |
| CARUTH CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 239 |
| GREATHOUSE BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 238 |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1994 | 235 |
| GUYLER DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2003 | 234 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 233 |
| Grand Lake Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2017 | 233 |
| ROGERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 231 |
| MUSTANG BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2013 | 230 |
| DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 230 |
| RUSH DITCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 224 |
| HICKORY SLOUGH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2012 | 223 |
| OLMOS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 220 |
| FLAT ROCK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 216 |
| BLACKWATER CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2018 | 210 |
| KENNEDY GULLY | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 210 |
| TEN MILE CREEK TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1991 | 203 |
| NORTH SULPHUR RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1968 | 200 |
| BIRCH CREEK DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1990 | 200 |
| Rowlette Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 200 |
| ALABAMA CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 198 |
| LOWER ELM CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1992 | 195 |
| CYPRESS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 190 |
| DRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 185 |
| E FORK CHAMBERS CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1991 | 179 |
| BRAZOS RIVER DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 170 |
| BESSIES CREEK DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 170 |
| BESSIES BAYOU | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 170 |
| BESSIES CREEK DRAW | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 170 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1996 | 170 |
| IRVING BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1973 | 160 |
| CAT CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 160 |
| CAMP BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2015 | 157 |
| SANSON CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1922 | 151 |
| HOUSE CK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 150 |
| REESE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 150 |
| Salt Fork of Red River | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1951 | 146 |
| OAK BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 144 |
| MULBERRY CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1989 | 140 |
| LOST CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 136 |
| NORTH PEASE RIVER | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 135 |
| POINDEXTER BRANCH | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 134 |
| Caddo Creek | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1995 | 131 |
| GILADON CREEK TRIB | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2002 | 131 |
| GRAPE CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 131 |
| WOLF CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical, Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2015 | 131 |
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.