Total bridges
660
Public highway bridges in Bell County
County profile · official public datasets
Bell County, TX
660 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 54.7% rated Good, 45% Fair, 0.3% Poor.
- 660
- Public bridges
- 54.7%
- Good condition
- 0.3%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Bell County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- Top 37%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 0.3%
- Poor-condition share
- 660
- public highway bridges
- 1984
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Bell County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Bell County ranks #92 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 0.3%). Bell County, Texas contains 660 public highway bridges. Roughly 54.7% are rated “Good,” 45% “Fair,” and 0.3% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
54.7%
361 of 660 rated 7-9
Fair condition
45%
297 of 660 rated 5-6
Poor condition
0.3%
2 of 660 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#92 of 247
Among Texas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 660 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 54.7% (361)
Fair 45% (297)
Poor 0.3% (2)
Bell County's Poor-condition bridges carry 6,071 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 0.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 3,036 crossings a day against 14,031 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 660 of 660 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
34.4% of Bell County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
227 of the 660 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 54.7% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 94.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SH 95 over DARRS CREEK, built 1922, carries 5,733 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 2-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 6,071 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Bell County's bridges were built
660 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 7
1920–1929
7 bridges
- 1930s 23
1930–1939
23 bridges
- 1940s 18
1940–1949
18 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
51 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
90 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
127 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
59 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
86 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
63 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
125 bridges
- 2020s 11
2020–2029
11 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 127 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 19.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1984) matches the Texas average (1980).
How Bell County compares with Texas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Texas counties nearest Bell County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 0.3% Poor share is the 1st-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1984 against a peer-group mean of 1988 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 246 Texas counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 783 | 54.4% | 44.8% | 0.8% | 1986 |
| McLennan County | 714 | 51.8% | 46.2% | 2% | 1980 |
| Montgomery County | 710 | 69.2% | 30.1% | 0.7% | 1998 |
| Ellis County | 691 | 53.3% | 45.2% | 1.6% | 1987 |
| Bell County (this page) | 660 | 54.7% | 45% | 0.3% | 1984 |
| Brazoria County | 618 | 62.8% | 34.8% | 2.4% | 1990 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Bell County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Bell County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside TX (660 bridges here).
- Lancaster County, NE · 661 bridges
- Sumner County, KS · 659 bridges
- Salt Lake County, UT · 659 bridges
- Jefferson County, KY · 662 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside TX (1984 here).
- Hennepin County, MN · avg 1984 · 936 bridges
- Duval County, FL · avg 1984 · 831 bridges
- El Paso County, CO · avg 1984 · 686 bridges
- Steuben County, NY · avg 1984 · 627 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (297)
FM 940
FairOver: HOBBY CREEK
3.38 MI E OF FM 437, Bell, TX
Built 1963 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100
FM 2601
FairOver: HOWARD BR
2.30 MI W OF SH 317, Bell, TX
Built 1961 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 545
FM 2601
FairOver: BEERWINKLE BR
1.30 MI W OF SH 317, Bell, TX
Built 1961 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 545
FM 2843
FairOver: LOVE BRANCH
0.20 MI W OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1966 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,756
FM 2843
FairOver: MITCHELL BRANCH
1.05 MI SW OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1966 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,756
FM 2843
FairOver: ADAMS BRANCH
6.80 MI SW OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1966 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,756
FM 2904
FairOver: SALT CREEK
0.66 MI E OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1966 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 275
FM 3117
FairOver: KNOB CREEK
0.45 MI E OF US 190, Bell, TX
Built 1969 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 877
FM 3470
FairOver: LITTLE NOLAN CREEK
1.69 MI S OF US 190, Bell, TX
Built 1995 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 19,045
SOLANA RANCH ROAD
FairOver: SALADO CREEK BRANCH
0.60 MI W PRAIRIE DELL CH, Bell, TX
Built 2000 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 115
KUYKENDALL BR ROAD
FairOver: SALADO CREEK BRANCH
0.50 MI W OF TRIANGLE RD, Bell, TX
Built 2002 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100
EAST FRENCH AVE
FairOver: WILLIAMSON BRANCH
0.50 MI NE OF N 20TH ST, Bell, TX
Built 1984 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 246
SH 53
FairOver: JANAK CREEK
0.50 MI W OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1920 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,873
SH 95
FairOver: BOGGY CREEK
1.10 MI N OF FM 436, Bell, TX
Built 1948 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 6,885
SH 95
FairOver: WILLOW CREEK
3.40 MI S OF FM 436, Bell, TX
Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,494
FM 935
FairOver: BRANCH OF POND CREEK
4.46 MI E OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1951 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 524
FM 935
FairOver: BRANCH OF POND CREEK
5.46 MI E OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1951 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 524
MILAM RD @ FM 485
FairOver: TRIB OF BIG ELM CR
0.01 MI W OF FM 485, Bell, TX
Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,430
FM 2268
FairOver: DARRS CREEK
5.35 MI E OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,294
OWL CREEK ROAD
FairOver: METHEGLIN CREEK
0.95 MI W OF SH 36, Bell, TX
Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 648
OWL CREEK ROAD
FairOver: FLINT CREEK
2.90 MI W OF SH 36, Bell, TX
Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 135
SOUTHERLAND ROAD
FairOver: CEDAR CREEK
0.90 MI E OF SH 317, Bell, TX
Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 187
SHINE BRANCH ROAD
FairOver: SHINE BRANCH
0.70 MI W OF FM 1237, Bell, TX
Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 102
SHINE BRANCH ROAD
FairOver: SHINE BRANCH TRIBUTARY
0.25 MI W OF FM 1237, Bell, TX
Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 102
OLD HWY 81
FairOver: WEST FORK DEER CREEK
0.30 MI SW OF FALLS C/L, Bell, TX
Built 1922 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
OLD HWY 81
FairOver: EAST FK DEER CEEK
1.10 MI SW OF FALLS C/L, Bell, TX
Built 1921 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
SHILOH ROAD
FairOver: BIG ELM CREEK
1.15 MI N OF FM 935, Bell, TX
Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
BOTTOMS ROAD
FairOver: PECAN CREEK
2.35 MI S OF FM 935, Bell, TX
Built 2003 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
BERGER ROAD
FairOver: COTTONWOOD CREEK
1.20 MI NE OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 358
BOTTOMS EAST ROAD
FairOver: PECAN CREEK
1.70 MI E OF IH 35, Bell, TX
Built 1945 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 420
LOWER TROY ROAD
FairOver: COTTONWOOD CREEK
0.15 MI N OF BERGER RD, Bell, TX
Built 1999 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 433
MUNROE AVEUNE
FairOver: LITTLE ELM CREEK
1.40 MI S OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 145
APPLE CIDER ROAD
FairOver: COTTONWOOD CREEK BRANCH
1.15 MI S OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1992 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 40
PEACH ORCHARD LANE
FairOver: BIG ELM CREEK BRANCH
0.25 MI N OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1991 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
OIL LOOP ROAD
FairOver: SALT CEEK
0.05 MI N OF FM 3369, Bell, TX
Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
E LITTLE FLOCK RD
FairOver: BIG ELM CREEK
2.20 MI NE OF SH 53, Bell, TX
Built 1973 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
SALT CREEK ROAD
FairOver: SALT CREEK
0.80 MI E OF FM 2086, Bell, TX
Built 1985 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 25
CYCLONE ROAD
FairOver: CAMP CREEK
0.75 MI E OF FM 437, Bell, TX
Built 1978 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 134
CYCLONE BRANCH RD
FairOver: BIG ELM CREEK TRIBUTARY
1.25 MI W OF FM 485, Bell, TX
Built 1984 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
MEEKS ROAD
FairOver: CAMP CREEK BRANCH
0.60 MI S OF FM 940, Bell, TX
Built 1984 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 120
SEATON ROAD
FairOver: BIG ELM CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.60 MI SW OF SH 53, Bell, TX
Built 1996 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 195
STRINGTOWN ROAD
FairOver: WHATLEY BRANCH
0.30 MI W OF FM 437, Bell, TX
Built 1978 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 115
STRINGTOWN ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELM CREEK BRANCH
1.90 MI SE OF FM 3117, Bell, TX
Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 203
STRINGTOWN ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELM CREEK BRANCH
1.15 MI SE OF FM 3117, Bell, TX
Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 303
STALLION ROAD
FairOver: LITTLE ELM CREEK BRANCH
3.65 MI SE OF US 190, Bell, TX
Built 1987 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 60
WEDEL CEMETERY RD
FairOver: KNOB CREEK BRANCH
1.55 MI SE OF SH 36, Bell, TX
Built 1978 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 455
REEDS LAKE ROAD
FairOver: KNOB CREEK
1.70 MI SE OF FM 436, Bell, TX
Built 1976 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 422
REEDS LAKE LOOP
FairOver: KNOB CREEK TRIB
2.40 MI SE OF REEDS LK RD, Bell, TX
Built 1985 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 35
REEDS LAKE LOOP
FairOver: KNOB CREEK
2.35 MI SE OF REEDS LK RD, Bell, TX
Built 1977 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
REEDS LAKE ROAD
FairOver: KNOB CREEK TRIB
2.90 MI NW OF SH 36, Bell, TX
Built 1993 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 60
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.