Structure 161260025501010 · Jim Wells County, TX

US 281 NB over Drain

Carries US 281 NB over Drain, 2.5 Mi S Of SH 141.

Overall conditionGood

Set by its lowest-rated component: Culvert at 7 of 9.

How ratings work
Culvertsets the rating7/9 · Good
Channelnot part of overall6/9 · Satisfactory
0 failed4 poor6 fair9 excellent

Elevation

Side view, colored by inspection rating
CAR · 15 FT29 FT ACROSS25 FT0ELEVATION · LENGTHS TO SCALE
Culvert 7/9

A culvert 29 ft across with 5 openings. Lengths and the car on the deck are drawn to the same scale. Each part is colored by its latest inspection rating. The inventory records lengths but not heights, so those are drawn as typical for a culvert.

Built1926rebuilt 1962
Length28.9 ft8.8 m
Daily traffic6,037counted 2022
Last inspectedFebruary 2024every 24 months

Location

StateTexas
CountyJim Wells
Location2.5 Mi S Of SH 141
CarriesUS 281 NB
CrossesDrain
Coordinates27.51490, -98.10234

Physical Characteristics

MaterialConcrete
DesignCulvert
Total Length28.9 ft (8.8 m)
Max Span4.9 ft (1.5 m)
Deck Width45.3 ft (13.8 m)
Deck Area121.4 sq m
Main Spans5
Year Built1926 (reconstructed 1962)

Traffic

Avg Daily Traffic6,037 (2022)
Truck Traffic21%
Lanes On Bridge2

Inspection & Ownership

Last InspectionFebruary 2024
Inspection FrequencyEvery 24 months
OwnerState Highway Agency
Historical SignificanceBridge is possibly eligible (requires evaluation)
Scour Critical8 — Stable, low risk
Structure Number161260025501010

How Bridge Ratings Work

Inspectors rate each major part of a bridge (the deck you drive on, the superstructure of beams that holds it up, and the substructure of piers and abutments beneath) on a 0–9 scale. A bridge's overall condition is its lowest of those ratings, so one deteriorated component makes the whole bridge "poor."

0Failed
1Imminent failure
2Critical
3Serious
4Poor
5Fair
6Satisfactory
7Good
8Very good
9Excellent
Good · lowest component 7–9
Fair · lowest component 5–6
Poor · lowest component 0–4

A poor rating is not a closure. It means the bridge is flagged for priority repair or replacement; bridges judged unsafe are closed or posted with weight limits. The waterway (channel) rating is reported, but it does not count toward the overall classification.

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