Total bridges
196
Public highway bridges in Houston County
County profile · official public datasets
Houston County, TX
196 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 41.3% rated Good, 51.5% Fair, 7.1% Poor.
- 196
- Public bridges
- 41.3%
- Good condition
- 7.1%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Houston County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 246th
- of 247 on Poor share
- 7.1%
- Poor-condition share
- 196
- 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.
Houston County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Houston County ranks #246 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 7.1%). Houston County, Texas contains 196 public highway bridges. Roughly 41.3% are rated “Good,” 51.5% “Fair,” and 7.1% “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
41.3%
81 of 196 rated 7-9
Fair condition
51.5%
101 of 196 rated 5-6
Poor condition
7.1%
14 of 196 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#246 of 247
Among Texas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 196 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 41.3% (81)
Fair 51.5% (101)
Poor 7.1% (14)
Houston County's Poor-condition bridges carry 5,112 vehicle crossings a day
That is 3.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 7.1% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 365 crossings a day against 635 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 196 of 196 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
34.2% of Houston County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
67 of the 196 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 41.3% 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 40.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SH 7 over TRINITY RIVER, built 1957, carries 2,084 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 14-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 5,112 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Houston County's bridges were built
196 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 10
1920–1929
10 bridges
- 1930s 13
1930–1939
13 bridges
- 1940s 2
1940–1949
2 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
20 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
20 bridges
- 1970s 8
1970–1979
8 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
20 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
30 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
37 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
17 bridges
- 2020s
2020–2029
19 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 37 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 18.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1984) matches the Texas average (1980).
How Houston County compares with Texas's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Texas counties nearest Houston County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 7.1% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1984 against a peer-group mean of 1976 is 8 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 246 Texas counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coryell County | 204 | 54.4% | 45.1% | 0.5% | 1971 |
| Erath County | 198 | 53.5% | 46% | 0.5% | 1973 |
| Cherokee County | 196 | 26% | 74% | 0% | 1974 |
| Houston County (this page) | 196 | 41.3% | 51.5% | 7.1% | 1984 |
| Matagorda County | 192 | 37.5% | 55.7% | 6.8% | 1982 |
| Milam County | 191 | 44.5% | 54.5% | 1% | 1979 |
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 Houston 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 Houston County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside TX (196 bridges here).
- Page County, IA · 196 bridges
- Wilkin County, MN · 196 bridges
- Sampson County, NC · 196 bridges
- Mifflin County, PA · 196 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 (101)
FM 1280
FairOver: LOST CREEK
1.90 MI W OF FM 3151, Houston, TX
Built 1959 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 423
FM 1280
FairOver: HALE GULLY
0.75 MI SE OF SH 21, Houston, TX
Built 1959 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 634
LP 304
FairOver: SPRING CREEK
0.25 MI E OF US 287, Houston, TX
Built 1960 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,757
FM 2076
FairOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
0.35 MI W OF LP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1955 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 284
FM 2423
FairOver: STOWE CREEK
0.8 MI W OF FM 2022, Houston, TX
Built 1958 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 280
FM 2712
FairOver: GAIL CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.85 MI S OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1963 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 326
FM 2160
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK TRIB
0.50 MI NW OF US 287, Houston, TX
Built 1957 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 485
FM 2781
FairOver: PINEY CREEK
4.45 MI S OF SH 7, Houston, TX
Built 1965 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 650
CR 4200
FairOver: WHITE ROCK CREEK
2.2 MI NE OF FM 1280, Houston, TX
Built 1990 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 55
CR 4110
FairOver: DUTCH SMITH CREEK
0.2 MI SW OF US 287, Houston, TX
Built 2012 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 4
CR 4160
FairOver: DICKEY CREEK
1.1 MI NE OF FM 1309, Houston, TX
Built 1999 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 55
CR 4200
FairOver: RIDGEWAY CREEK
3.8 MI NE OF FM 1280, Houston, TX
Built 1998 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 55
SH 19
FairOver: UP RR
1.95 MI S OF FM 1280, Houston, TX
Built 1962 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,754
US 287
FairOver: GRANNY CREEK
0.65 MI SE OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1932 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,099
US 287
FairOver: ARNOLD CREEK
1.50 MI SE OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1932 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,099
CR 1170 (USFS 511)
FairOver: KILGORE BRANCH
5.3 MI E FM 227, Houston, TX
Built 1966 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 55
CR 4625
FairOver: ELM CREEK
0.7 MI S OF SH7 @ KENNARD, Houston, TX
Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 239
CR 3480
FairOver: LOST CREEK
1.7 MI SE END OF FM3275, Houston, TX
Built 2004 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 100
EAST PEASE AVE
FairOver: TOWN BRANCH
0.4 MI W OF SH 19/US 287, Houston, TX
Built 1920 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 404
CR 3575
FairOver: DILLARD CREEK
4.8 MI E OF FM 230, Houston, TX
Built 1995 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 55
LP 304
FairOver: UPRR & TOWN BRANCH
0.45 MI SW OF US 287, Houston, TX
Built 1963 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,341
CR 1115
FairOver: ROSEY BAYOU
0.5 MI SE OF FM 1733, Houston, TX
Built 1987 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 55
SH 21
FairOver: BIG CREEK
5.3 MI SW OF SH 7, Houston, TX
Built 1923 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,500
SH 7
FairOver: NECHES RIVER RELIEF
0.5 MI SW OF HOUSTON C/L, Houston, TX
Built 1944 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,413
SH 7
FairOver: NECHES RIVER RELIEF
0.1 MI SW OF HOUSTON C/L, Houston, TX
Built 1940 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,413
US 287
FairOver: DICKEY CREEK
6.3 MI SE OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1932 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,683
FM 227
FairOver: BIG ELKHART CREEK
4.2 MI W OF FM 2544, Houston, TX
Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 135
FM 232
FairOver: PEACHTREE CREEK RELIEF
2.2 MI S OF SH 7, Houston, TX
Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 145
FM 232
FairOver: WHITE ROCK CREEK
3.3 MI S OF SH 7, Houston, TX
Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100
FM 1280
FairOver: TANTABOGUE CREEK RELIEF
3.55 MI W OF SH 19, Houston, TX
Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 629
FM 1280
FairOver: TANTABOGUE CREEK
3.75 MI W OF SH 19, Houston, TX
Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 629
SH 21
FairOver: DRAW
2.4 MI SW OF SH 7, Houston, TX
Built 1923 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,500
US 287
FairOver: COLLINS CREEK
2.40 MI SE OF FM 232, Houston, TX
Built 1932 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,662
US 287
FairOver: HURRICANE BAYOU RELIEF
0.9 MI NW OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1928 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 7,582
US 287
FairOver: HURRICANE BAYOU
0.7 MI NW OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1928 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 7,582
US 287
FairOver: HURRICANE BAYOU RELIEF
0.55 MI NW OF LOOP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1928 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 7,582
CR 3880
FairOver: BIG CREEK
0.6 MI SE OF SH 21, Houston, TX
Built 2000 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 55
FDR 526
FairOver: CAMP CREEK
4.5 MI NE JCT FM227, Houston, TX
Built 1966 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 50
FDR 513
FairOver: SOUTH COCHINO BAYOU
1 MI N SH7 @KENNARD, Houston, TX
Built 1966 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 50
US 287
FairOver: WHITE ROCK CREEK
1.2 MI SE OF FM 232, Houston, TX
Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,662
FM 230
FairOver: WRIGHTS CREEK
8.30 MI SW OF FM 2915, Houston, TX
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,017
FM 1280
FairOver: WHITE ROCK CREEK
5.0 MI E OF SH 19, Houston, TX
Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 529
FM 1280
FairOver: CANEY BAYOU
1.10 MI SE OF SH 21, Houston, TX
Built 1959 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 634
CR 2170
FairOver: DRAW
4.4 MI SW OF FM 227, Houston, TX
Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55
CR 3060
FairOver: TRIB OF BIG CREEK
0.4 MI NE OF SH 21, Houston, TX
Built 1922 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 55
CR 1135
FairOver: OLD ZION CREEK
2.7 MI NE OF FM 1733, Houston, TX
Built 1985 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 55
CR 3060
FairOver: TRIB OF BIG CREEK
0.8 MI SW OF SH 21, Houston, TX
Built 1922 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 55
CR 3385
FairOver: GEORGIA CAMP CREEK
1.2 MI SW FM 1280, Houston, TX
Built 2013 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 55
FM 229
FairOver: HURRICANE BAYOU RELIEF
3.15 MI NW OF LP 304, Houston, TX
Built 1969 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,091
SH 7
FairOver: TRINITY RIVER RELIEF
4.0 MI W OF FM 132, Houston, TX
Built 1957 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,084
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.