Total bridges
691
Public highway bridges in Ellis County
County profile · official public datasets
Ellis County, TX
691 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 53.3% rated Good, 45.2% Fair, 1.6% Poor.
- 691
- Public bridges
- 53.3%
- Good condition
- 1.6%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Ellis 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.
- 164th
- of 247 on Poor share
- 1.6%
- Poor-condition share
- 691
- public highway bridges
- 1987
- 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.
Ellis County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Ellis County ranks #164 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 1.6%). Ellis County, Texas contains 691 public highway bridges. Roughly 53.3% are rated “Good,” 45.2% “Fair,” and 1.6% “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
53.3%
368 of 691 rated 7-9
Fair condition
45.2%
312 of 691 rated 5-6
Poor condition
1.6%
11 of 691 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#164 of 247
Among Texas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 691 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 53.3% (368)
Fair 45.2% (312)
Poor 1.6% (11)
Ellis County's Poor-condition bridges carry 3,713 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 1.6% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 338 crossings a day against 9,423 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 691 of 691 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
32.3% of Ellis County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
223 of the 691 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 53.3% 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 40.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
IH 45 BUS LP over IH 45 ML, built 1992, carries 1,500 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 11-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 3,713 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Ellis County's bridges were built
691 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 5
1920–1929
5 bridges
- 1930s 10
1930–1939
10 bridges
- 1940s 8
1940–1949
8 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
97 bridges
- 1960s 50
1960–1969
50 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
69 bridges
- 1980s 54
1980–1989
54 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
154 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
110 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
119 bridges
- 2020s 15
2020–2029
15 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1990s, when 154 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 22.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 25 to 34 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1987, 7 years newer than the Texas average of 1980.
How Ellis County compares with Texas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Texas counties nearest Ellis County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 1.6% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1987 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 (this page) | 691 | 53.3% | 45.2% | 1.6% | 1987 |
| Bell County | 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 Ellis 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 Ellis County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside TX (691 bridges here).
- El Paso County, CO · 686 bridges
- Broward County, FL · 686 bridges
- Douglas County, OR · 699 bridges
- Bucks County, PA · 699 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside TX (1987 here).
- St. Louis County, MO · avg 1987 · 912 bridges
- St. Louis County, MN · avg 1987 · 663 bridges
- Palm Beach County, FL · avg 1987 · 610 bridges
- Dane County, WI · avg 1987 · 590 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Good-condition bridges (368)
N MIDLOTH PKWY NB
GoodOver: UPRR & WAXAHACHIE CREEK
0.4 MI N OF US 287 BUS, Ellis, TX
Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000
N MIDLOTHIAN PKWY
GoodOver: DRAW
0.9 MI N OF FM 1387, Ellis, TX
Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,938
WALNUT GROVE ROAD
GoodOver: NORTH PRONG CREEK
1.0 MI N OF JCT FM 1387, Ellis, TX
Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 803
MT ZION ROAD
GoodOver: WAXAHACHIE CREEK TRIB
0.15 MI E OF MIDLOTH PKY, Ellis, TX
Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 628
MOUNT ZION RD
GoodOver: WAXAHACHIE CREEK TRIB
0.1 MI W OF MIDLOTH PKWY, Ellis, TX
Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500
N COUCH STREET
GoodOver: HOUSTON CREEK
0.24 MI SE OF US 77, Ellis, TX
Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,257
PRATT RD
GoodOver: BRUSHY CREEK
0.30 MI N OF FM 664, Ellis, TX
Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 288
PRATT RD
GoodOver: BEAR CREEK
0.40 MI N OF FM 664, Ellis, TX
Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 288
HADLEY LN
GoodOver: DRAIN
0.2 MI S OF US 287, Ellis, TX
Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 149
TIMBERCREST DR
GoodOver: WAXAHACHIE CREEK TRIB.
0.04 MI N OF DOUBLE CR DR, Ellis, TX
Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100
POWER WAY
GoodOver: SOAP CREEK
0.8 MI SW OF RAILPORT PKY, Ellis, TX
Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 66
LAWSON FARMS DRIVE
GoodOver: WAXAHACHIE CR TRIB.
0.04 N OF DOUBLE CR DR., Ellis, TX
Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200
LEDGESTONE LANE
GoodOver: WAXAHACHIE CREEK TRIB.
0.7 MI S OF MT ZION RD., Ellis, TX
Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000
N HAYES ROAD
GoodOver: N PRONG CREEK TRIB.
0.06 MI S OF MOCKINGBIRD, Ellis, TX
Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100
ALTON ADAMS DR
GoodOver: NORTH GROVE CREEK
0.1 MI W OF US 77, Ellis, TX
Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 158
N GROVE BLVD
GoodOver: TRIB GROVE CREEK
0.2 MI NW OF BROWN ST, Ellis, TX
Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500
TYLER ST/HAVEN RD
GoodOver: TRIB GROVE CREEK
0.1 MI S OF WASHINGTON, Ellis, TX
Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 158
STRAIT LN
GoodOver: TRIB GROVE CREEK
0.03 MI W OF TYLER ST, Ellis, TX
Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 158
WASHINGTON AVE
GoodOver: TRIB GROVE CREEK
0.2 MI W OF N GROVE BLVD, Ellis, TX
Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 158
Holder Road
GoodOver: Onion Creek
0.65 Mi SW of JCT FM 55, Ellis, TX
Built 2016 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 103
US 287 NB
GoodOver: UPRR
0.65 MI E OF IH 35E, Ellis, TX
Built 1971 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 15,770
US 287 SB
GoodOver: UPRR
0.65 MI E OF IH 35E, Ellis, TX
Built 1971 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 15,770
JOANNA LANE
GoodOver: FLAT ROCK BRANCH TRIB
0.6 MI SW OF MORGAN RD, Ellis, TX
Built 2008 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 10
US 287 EB
GoodOver: MUSTANG CREEK
3.4 MI W OF FM 1722, Ellis, TX
Built 1986 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 11,071
FM 985
GoodOver: ONION CREEK
3.6 MI SE OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 1972 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 408
US 287 NBML
GoodOver: UPPER MUSTANG CREEK
0.55 MI SE OF US 77, Ellis, TX
Built 1971 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 8,980
US 287 SBFR
GoodOver: MUSTANG CREEK
0.55 MI SE OF US 77, Ellis, TX
Built 1971 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,990
US 287 SB
GoodOver: FRONTAGE ROAD CONNECTOR
1.4 MI W OF FM 664, Ellis, TX
Built 1973 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 16,717
FM 985
GoodOver: ONION CREEK RELIEF
3.5 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 408
FM 985
GoodOver: ONION CREEK SLOUGH
3.4 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 408
FM 664
GoodOver: US 287
1.5 MI E OF US 287 BUS, Ellis, TX
Built 1973 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,600
US 67 SBML
GoodOver: SUTTON BRANCH
1.50 MI SW OF US 287, Ellis, TX
Built 1980 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 12,663
US 77
GoodOver: IH 35E
2.5 MI S OF FM 664, Ellis, TX
Built 2008 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 10,130
IH 35E
GoodOver: BIG ONION CREEK
6.1 MI S of FM 66, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 44,154
BILL LEWIS (CR319)
GoodOver: IH 35E
8.9 MI S OF FM 66, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 200
FM 329
GoodOver: IH 35E MLS
7.9 MI S OF FM 66, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 400
GRAINERY RD
GoodOver: IH 35E ML
3.7 MI S OF FM 66, Ellis, TX
Built 2011 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 110
IH 35E NB ML
GoodOver: MILL CREEK
0.4 MI SW OF FM 308, Ellis, TX
Built 2007 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19,129
IH 35E SB ML
GoodOver: MILL CREEK
0.4 MI SW OF FM 308, Ellis, TX
Built 2006 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 18,891
IH 35E
GoodOver: MILL CREEK BRANCH
0.15 MI SW OF FM 308, Ellis, TX
Built 2006 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 33,458
IH 35E NB
GoodOver: HOG CREEK
1.2 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 2007 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19,129
IH 35E SB
GoodOver: HOG CREEK
1.2 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 2007 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 18,891
IH 35E MLS
GoodOver: DERRS CHAPEL RD
1.4 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 2007 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 33,458
IH 35E MLS
GoodOver: HOUSTON CREEK
0.5 MI S OF SH 34, Ellis, TX
Built 2007 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 33,458
IH 35E
GoodOver: RICHLAND CREEK
0.5 MI N OF HILL CTY LINE, Ellis, TX
Built 2006 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 37,385
IH 35E ML
GoodOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
0.10 MI S OF FM 329, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 35,407
IH 35E ML
GoodOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
0.10 MI S OF FM 329, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 36,335
IH 35E ML
GoodOver: DRAW
5.0 MI S OF FM 66, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 36,335
IH 35E ML
GoodOver: DRAW
0.40 MI N OF FM 329, Ellis, TX
Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 36,335
US 287 NB
GoodOver: LONG BRANCH
1.6 MI W OF FM 664, Ellis, TX
Built 1973 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 18,540
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.