County profile · official public datasets

Denton County, TX

991 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 57.8% rated Good, 41.3% Fair, 0.9% Poor.

991
Public bridges
57.8%
Good condition
0.9%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Denton County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.

129th
of 247 on Poor share
0.9%
Poor-condition share
991
public highway bridges
1994
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.

Denton County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Denton County ranks #129 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 0.9%). Denton County, Texas contains 991 public highway bridges. Roughly 57.8% are rated “Good,” 41.3% “Fair,” and 0.9% “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.

Total bridges

991

Public highway bridges in Denton County

Good condition

57.8%

573 of 991 rated 7-9

Fair condition

41.3%

409 of 991 rated 5-6

Poor condition

0.9%

9 of 991 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#129 of 247

Among Texas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 991 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
57.8% (573)
Fair
41.3% (409)
Poor
0.9% (9)

Denton County's Poor-condition bridges carry 127,256 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 0.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry more traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 14,140 crossings a day against 13,125 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 989 of 991 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

22.3% of Denton County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

221 of the 991 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 57.8% 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 26.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

IH 35 NBML over CLEAR CREEK, built 1958, carries 33,174 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 9-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 127,256 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Denton County's bridges were built

991 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 231 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 23.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1994, 14 years newer than the Texas average of 1980.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Denton County compares with Texas's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Texas counties nearest Denton County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 0.9% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1994 against a peer-group mean of 1991 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 246 Texas counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Denton County and the 5 Texas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Williamson County 1,170 0.3%
Collin County 1,127 0.1%
Denton County (this page) 991 0.9%
Fort Bend County 795 2.5%
El Paso County 783 0.8%
McLennan County 714 2%

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 Denton 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 Denton County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside TX (991 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside TX (1994 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

Fair-condition bridges (409)

LP 288 NB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: COOPER CREEK

0.10 MI N OF US 380, Denton, TX

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 21,998

LP 288 SB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: COOPER CREEK

0.10 MI N OF US 380, Denton, TX

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 21,998

LP 288 WB

Fair

Over: BONNIE BRAE RD

0.90 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,260

LP 288 EB

Fair

Over: BONNIE BRAE RD

0.90 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,478

LP 288 WB

Fair

Over: FM 2164

2.70 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,260

LP 288 EB

Fair

Over: FM 2164

2.70 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,789

LP 288 EB

Fair

Over: FM 428

4.00 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,789

LP 288 WB

Fair

Over: FM 428

4.00 MI E OF IH 35, Denton, TX

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,386

FM 2449

Fair

Over: DENTON CREEK

3.85 MI W OF FM 156, Denton, TX

Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 128

FM 2499 NB

Fair

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.84 MI S OF FM 2181, Denton, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

FM 2499 SB

Fair

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.84 MI S OF FM 2181, Denton, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

FM 2499 NB

Fair

Over: POINDEXTER CREEK

2.14 MI S OF FM 2181, Denton, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

FM 2499 SB

Fair

Over: POINDEXTER CREEK

2.14 MI S OF FM 2181, Denton, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

PGBT EB

Fair

Over: FRANKFORD RD

2.30 MI W OF N DALLAS TL, Denton, TX

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,000

PGBT WB

Fair

Over: FRANKFORD RD

2.30 MI W OF N DALLAS TL, Denton, TX

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,000

MARSH LN

Fair

Over: PGBT

2.00 MI W OF DALLAS TLWY, Denton, TX

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,800

PGBT EB

Fair

Over: ROSEMEADE PKWY

1.15 MI W OF DALLAS TLWY, Denton, TX

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,000

PGBT

Fair

Over: FURNEAUX CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.05 MI W ROSEMEADE PKWY, Denton, TX

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,000

SRT NB

Fair

Over: ELM FK TRINITY RI & UPRR

0.20 MI E OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

SH 121 BUS NB CONN

Fair

Over: SH 121 TOLL

4.75 MI NE OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,000

SH 121 NB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: TIMBER CREEK

0.10 MI E OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

FM 2281 NB

Fair

Over: SRT

4.70 MI NE OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,209

SH 121 NB

Fair

Over: HUFFINES BLVD

1.20 MI NE OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 36,100

MIDWAY RD SB

Fair

Over: KCS RAILROAD

0.20 MI S OF PLANO PKWY, Denton, TX

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,000

FREEMAN RD

Fair

Over: N HICKORY CREEK TRIB

1.50 MI N OF FM 1173, Denton, TX

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 66

FREEMAN RD

Fair

Over: N HICKORY CREEK

0.95 MI N OF FM 1173, Denton, TX

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 62

PLAINVIEW RD

Fair

Over: N HICKORY CREEK

0.40 MI W OF 4TH ST, Denton, TX

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 52

Gregory Rd

Fair

Over: Little Duck Creek

1.5 Mi E of FM 2450, Denton, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

RIEK RD

Fair

Over: S HICKORY CREEK

0.65 MI W OF RIPY RD, Denton, TX

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 52

MOBBERLY RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELM CREEK

1.40 MI E OF FM 1385, Denton, TX

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 62

OLD STONEY ROAD

Fair

Over: DENTON CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.20 MI W OF FM 2622, Denton, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 103

Artesia Blvd

Fair

Over: Button Branch

0.35 MI NE of FISHTRAP RD, Denton, TX

Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 186

EAKIN CEMETERY RD

Fair

Over: DENTON CREEK TRIBUTARY

1.15 MI W OF FM 156, Denton, TX

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 268

BONNIE BRAE RD

Fair

Over: ROARK BRANCH

0.85 MI N OF US 377, Denton, TX

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 62

Oliver Creek Rd

Fair

Over: Oliver Creek

2.5 Mi N of FM 407, Denton, TX

Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

Berend Rd

Fair

Over: Pecan Creek

1.2 Mi E of US 377, Denton, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

Stacee Lane

Fair

Over: Loving Branch

0.2 Mi N of Lantana Tr, Denton, TX

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

JIM CHRISTAL RD

Fair

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

2.75 MI E OF FM 156, Denton, TX

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 104

Creekway Dr

Fair

Over: Goblin Holler

0.4 Mi E of John Paine Rd, Denton, TX

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 186

John Paine Rd

Fair

Over: Goblin Holler

0.3 Mi N of Crawford Rd, Denton, TX

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

CORPORATE DR

Fair

Over: TIMBER CREEK

0.35 MI W OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,474

Lady of the Lake

Fair

Over: Indian Creek

0.7 MI E OF WINDHAVEN PKW, Denton, TX

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,530

Merlin Dr

Fair

Over: Indian Creek Trib

0.2 MI N OF KING ARTHUR B, Denton, TX

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 280

HEBRON PKWY

Fair

Over: TIMBER CREEK

0.05 MI E OF IH 35E NBFR, Denton, TX

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,965

SH 121 WBFR

Fair

Over: TRIB OF DENTON CR

0.80 MI W OF MACARTHUR BL, Denton, TX

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

SH 121 EBFR

Fair

Over: TRIB OF DENTON CR

0.80 MI W OF MACARTHUR BL, Denton, TX

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

SH 121 WBFR

Fair

Over: CANAL - TRIB DENTON CR

0.35 MI E OF MACARTHUR BL, Denton, TX

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

WATERS RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: TIMBER CREEK

0.05 MI E OF IH 35E NBFR, Denton, TX

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

WATERS RIDGE DR

Fair

Over: TRIB OF TIMBER CREEK

0.60 MI NE OF IH 35E, Denton, TX

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

SPRING CK PKWY SB

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.70 MI W OF MIDWAY ROAD, Denton, TX

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,464
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.