County profile · official public datasets

Hays County, TX

272 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 79% rated Good, 20.6% Fair, 0.4% Poor.

272
Public bridges
79%
Good condition
0.4%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

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

Top 39%
lowest Poor share in state
0.4%
Poor-condition share
272
public highway bridges
1996
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.

Hays County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Hays County ranks #96 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 0.4%). Hays County, Texas contains 272 public highway bridges. Roughly 79% are rated “Good,” 20.6% “Fair,” and 0.4% “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

272

Public highway bridges in Hays County

Good condition

79%

215 of 272 rated 7-9

Fair condition

20.6%

56 of 272 rated 5-6

Poor condition

0.4%

1 of 272 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#96 of 247

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

Condition distribution

Share of 272 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
79% (215)
Fair
20.6% (56)
Poor
0.4% (1)

Hays County's Poor-condition bridges carry 12,520 vehicle crossings a day

That is 0.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 0.4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 12,520 crossings a day against 12,906 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 272 of 272 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

21.7% of Hays County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

59 of the 272 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 79% 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 100% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

SH 123 over BIG COTTONWOOD CREEK, built 1929, carries 12,520 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 1-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 12,520 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Hays County's bridges were built

272 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2010s, when 80 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 29.4% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 5 to 14 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1996, 16 years newer than the Texas average of 1980.

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

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

The 5 Texas counties nearest Hays County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 0.4% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1996 against a peer-group mean of 1975 is 21 years newer.

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

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Hays County and the 5 Texas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Limestone County 280 3.9%
Rusk County 280 0.4%
Hays County (this page) 272 0.4%
Harrison County 269 2.6%
Wise County 264 1.1%
DeWitt County 263 1.1%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside TX (272 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside TX (1996 here).

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

All 272 Good 215 Fair 56 Poor 1

All bridges (272)

HUNTER ROAD

Good

Over: PURGATORY CREEK

0.2 MI NE OF RM 12, Hays, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14,900

HUNTER ROAD

Good

Over: PURGATORY CREEK RELIEF

0.5 MI N OF RM 12, Hays, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,921

Jack C Hays Trail

Good

Over: Onion Creek Trib

0.5 Mi SW of S Main St, Hays, TX

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,197

RM 12

Good

Over: WILLOW SPRINGS CK/UPRR

0.20 MI NW OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,741

RM 12 N FR

Good

Over: WILLOW SPRINGS CREEK

0.40 MI NW OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

RM 12 S FR

Good

Over: WILLOW SPRINGS CREEK

0.40 MI NW OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

RM 12 WB

Good

Over: PRIVATE RD (WILLS)

2.3 MI NW OF FM 2439, Hays, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,824

RM 12 EB

Good

Over: PRIVATE RD (WILLS)

2.3 MI NW OF FM 2439, Hays, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,055

RM 12

Good

Over: PURGATORY CREEK BRANCH

2.0 MI NW OF FM 2439, Hays, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,890

RM 12

Good

Over: PURGATORY CREEK BRANCH

1.5 MI NW OF FM 2439, Hays, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,890

RM 12

Good

Over: PURGATORY CREEK

0.5 MI NW OF FM 2439, Hays, TX

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,890

FM110 MCCARTY LN

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.5 MI SE OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,559

FM 110

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.3 M. E OF INT SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

FM 110

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CRK TRIB 2

0.7 M. E OF INT SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,000

FM 110

Good

Over: JOHN BAUGH CRK TRIB

2.9 M. E OF INT SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

FM 110

Good

Over: JOHN BAUGH CREEK

1.3 M. S OF INT SH 80, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

FM 110

Good

Over: SAN MARCOS RIVER

0.3 M. S OF INT SH 80, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

FM 110

Good

Over: UPRR; ARNOLD AVE OVERPAS

1 MI N of SH 80, Hays, TX

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,600

FM 110

Good

Over: SH 21 SB Ramp

.025 MI NE of SH 21, Hays, TX

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,600

AURA DRIVE

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.8 MI SE OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,265

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.5 MI E OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

REUNION BLVD

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK TRIB

0.17 MI S OF FM 1826, Hays, TX

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,430

Mathias Ln (CR123)

Good

Over: Trib Brushy Creek

0.3 Mi SE of Windy Hill, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,029

HILLSIDE TERRACE

Good

Over: DRAINAGE CHANNEL

0.10 MI E OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

TURNERSVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.3 MI E OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

CR 140 (POST ROAD)

Good

Over: BLANCO RIVER

1.5 MI SW OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,792

HEIDENREICH LN

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.77 MI NE OF FM 150, Hays, TX

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

CR181(FISCHER STR)

Good

Over: BLANCO RIVER

3.1 MI SW OF FM 2325, Hays, TX

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 350

CR 205 (DACY LN)

Good

Over: BUNTON BRANCH

0.55 MI SW OF CR 122, Hays, TX

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

CR 266(OLD BASTROP

Good

Over: SAN MARCOS RIVER

1.5 MI N OF FM 621, Hays, TX

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,847

OLD MARTINDALE RD

Good

Over: BLANCO RIVER

0.40 MI SE OF RIVER RD, Hays, TX

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 366

CR 307 (LAKEWOOD)

Good

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.04 MI S OF FM 1626, Hays, TX

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,100

CALITERRA PKWY

Good

Over: ONION CREEK

0.6 MI W of RR 12, Hays, TX

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200

CR 225; LIME KILN

Good

Over: SAN MARCOS RIVER

1.2 MI W OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,677

WINTERS MILL PKWY

Good

Over: TRIB OF CYPRESS CREEK

1.50 MI SE OF RM 12, Hays, TX

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

MAYBROOK DR

Good

Over: Garlic Creek

0.25 Mi W of FM 1626, Hays, TX

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

Old Bastrop Rd

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.8 Mi SW of Centerpoint, Hays, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,100

Old Bastrop Rd

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.9 Mi SW of Centerpoint, Hays, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,100

Blossom Valley Str

Good

Over: Draw

0.03 MI S OF Clear Water, Hays, TX

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

Fire Cracker Dr

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.08 Mi S of Main St, Hays, TX

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,500

CAPE ROAD

Good

Over: SAN MARCOS RIVER

0.55 MI NE OF SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,513

YARRINGTON RD

Good

Over: UPRR & POST RD

0.30 MI NW OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,040

CLOVIS BARKER RD

Good

Over: DRAW

0.01 MI W OF SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

MONTERREY OAK

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CRK TRIB

0.4 MI SE of SH 123, Hays, TX

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,124

Crooked Creek

Good

Over: Trib Garlic Creek

0.4 Mi E of FM 1626, Hays, TX

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200

SAMPSON RD

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.13 MI S OF CROMWELL ST, Hays, TX

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

GOFORTH ROAD

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.7 MI NE OF IH 35, Hays, TX

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,350

LEHMAN RD

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.9 MI N OF FM 150, Hays, TX

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,114

MARKETPLACE AVE

Good

Over: SPRING BRANCH

0.7 MI S OF FM 1626, Hays, TX

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 300

MARKETPLACE AVE

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.5 MI S OF FM 1626, Hays, TX

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 300

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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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.