County profile · official public datasets

Polk County, TX

210 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 48.1% rated Good, 46.2% Fair, 5.7% Poor.

210
Public bridges
48.1%
Good condition
5.7%
Poor condition

The verdict

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

Polk County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

242nd
of 247 on Poor share
5.7%
Poor-condition share
210
public highway bridges
1983
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.

Polk County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Polk County ranks #242 of 247 Texas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.7%). Polk County, Texas contains 210 public highway bridges. Roughly 48.1% are rated “Good,” 46.2% “Fair,” and 5.7% “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

210

Public highway bridges in Polk County

Good condition

48.1%

101 of 210 rated 7-9

Fair condition

46.2%

97 of 210 rated 5-6

Poor condition

5.7%

12 of 210 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#242 of 247

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

Condition distribution

Share of 210 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
48.1% (101)
Fair
46.2% (97)
Poor
5.7% (12)

Polk County's Poor-condition bridges carry 19,051 vehicle crossings a day

That is 2.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.7% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,588 crossings a day against 2,030 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 210 of 210 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

35.2% of Polk County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

74 of the 210 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 48.1% 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 64.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

US 190 over KICKAPOO CREEK, built 1969, carries 12,306 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 12-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 19,051 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Polk County's bridges were built

210 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 2010s, when 46 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 21.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 5 to 14 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1983) matches the Texas average (1980).

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

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

The 5 Texas counties nearest Polk County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.7% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1983 against a peer-group mean of 1975 is 8 years newer.

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

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Polk County and the 5 Texas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Austin County 214 2.8%
Gregg County 214 0%
Medina County 214 1.9%
Reeves County 213 1.9%
Comanche County 212 1.9%
Polk County (this page) 210 5.7%

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

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside TX (210 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside TX (1983 here).

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

Fair-condition bridges (97)

W CANEY LOOP

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

2.70 MI SW OF FM 1745, Polk, TX

Built 1970 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 39

FREEMAN RD

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

2.7 MI S OF FM 942, Polk, TX

Built 1998 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 100

CARRINGTON CEM RD

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

1.0 MI SE OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 2010 Load: 11.6 t ADT: 100

HIDDEN VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: EAST TEMPE CREEK

1.3 MI N OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1999 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 40

OZRA RD

Fair

Over: KIMBALL CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.55 MI W OF FM 62, Polk, TX

Built 2010 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 39

US 59 SB

Fair

Over: MORGAN CREEK

5.90 MI S OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1963 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 13,108

SWILLEY RD

Fair

Over: ALEXANDER CREEK

0.4 MI W OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1993 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 55

FREEMAN RD

Fair

Over: ALEXANDER CREEK

0.3 MI S OF FM 942, Polk, TX

Built 2007 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 100

FM 1988

Fair

Over: TEMPE CREEK

2.45 MI W OF US 59 SB CON, Polk, TX

Built 1954 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 3,042

BERGMAN RD

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK TRIB

0.4 MI N OF FM 2665, Polk, TX

Built 2005 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 42

OLD HWY 35 S

Fair

Over: SANSON CREEK

0.05 MI NW OF LP 393, Polk, TX

Built 1922 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 177

US 59

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

2.60 MI S OF FM 942, Polk, TX

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 19,104

US 59

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

1.45 MI S OF FM 350, Polk, TX

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 20,856

US 59

Fair

Over: SANSON CREEK

0.4 MI N OF FM 1988, Polk, TX

Built 1963 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 27,508

US 59

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.8 MI S OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1963 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 23,876

US 59

Fair

Over: DRAIN

0.15 MI S OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1977 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 22,065

US 190

Fair

Over: WEST TEMPE CREEK

0.95 SE OF FM 3126, Polk, TX

Built 1969 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 11,381

PARK RD 56

Fair

Over: LAKE TOMBIGBEE SPILLWAY

1.25 MI SW OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1972 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 280

US 287

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

0.30 MI E OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1958 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,627

FM 62

Fair

Over: DRAW

0.10 MI W OF FM 942, Polk, TX

Built 1947 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 741

FM 352

Fair

Over: CREEDS CREEK

2.25 MI E OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 278

FM 942

Fair

Over: ALEXANDER CREEK

1.65 MI SE OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1991 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 225

FM 942

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

0.30 MI SE OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1958 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 907

FM 942

Fair

Over: MCMANUS CREEK

5.50 MI SE OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1958 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 847

US 59 NB

Fair

Over: MORGAN CREEK

5.90 MI S OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1938 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 14,400

NINE BRIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK

1.82 MI N OF FM 352, Polk, TX

Built 1980 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 105

FISHERMANS POINT

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.7 MI E OF SH 146, Polk, TX

Built 1999 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 50

US 59 SB

Fair

Over: MCCARDELL SLOUGH

0.90 MI S OF FM 2665, Polk, TX

Built 1938 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 12,002

FM 1745

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

2.95 MI E OF FM 942, Polk, TX

Built 1955 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 102

FM 942

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

3.45 MI SE OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1958 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 907

NINE BRIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK RELIEF

1.70 MI N OF FM 352, Polk, TX

Built 1994 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 39

OLD HWY 35

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.8 MI SW OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1922 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 20

MILL GATE RD

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

1.2 MI NE OF SH 146, Polk, TX

Built 2000 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 100

OLD HIGHWAY 35 N

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

1.1 MI N OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 100

OLD HIGHWAY 35 N

Fair

Over: WILLIS CREEK

2.9 MI N OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 100

US 190

Fair

Over: MENARD CREEK

5.55 MI E OF SH 146, Polk, TX

Built 1947 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 7,262

FM 350

Fair

Over: TEMPE CREEK

2.55 MI SW OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1957 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,869

FM 352

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.35 MI N OF US 287, Polk, TX

Built 1955 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 201

FM 942

Fair

Over: DABBS CREEK

2.25 MI SE OF FM 62, Polk, TX

Built 1956 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 526

FM 350

Fair

Over: MEADOW CREEK

7.55 MI W OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 611

FM 350

Fair

Over: LONG TOM CREEK

9.05 MI W OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 611

US 59 SB

Fair

Over: NECHES RIVER RELIEF 3A

0.40 MI S OF ANGELINA C/L, Polk, TX

Built 1943 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,423

US 59 SB

Fair

Over: NECHES RIVER RELIEF 2A

0.70 MI S OF ANGELINA C/L, Polk, TX

Built 1943 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,423

US 59 SB

Fair

Over: NECHES RIVER RELIEF 1A

1.05 MI S OF ANGELINA C/L, Polk, TX

Built 1943 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,423

US 59 NB

Fair

Over: MCCARDELL SLOUGH

0.90 MI S OF FM 2665, Polk, TX

Built 1963 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 13,047

FM 350

Fair

Over: PLUM CREEK

5.40 MI N OF US 190, Polk, TX

Built 1956 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 701

ROCK ISLAND ROAD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

1.70 MI E OF US 59, Polk, TX

Built 1985 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 34

US 190

Fair

Over: TRINITY RIVER

AT US 190 & TRINITY RIVER, Polk, TX

Built 1969 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,943

FM 2610

Fair

Over: MENARD CREEK

4.75 MI S OF SH 146, Polk, TX

Built 1962 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 824

FM 943

Fair

Over: MENARD CREEK

8.15 MI E OF SH 146, Polk, TX

Built 1958 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 738
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.