Structure 161260025403024 · Jim Wells County, TX

US 281 over Palo Creek

Carries US 281 over Palo Creek, 2.0 Mi N Of FM 2044.

Overall conditionFair

Set by its lowest-rated component: Culvert at 6 of 9.

How ratings work
Culvertsets the rating6/9 · Satisfactory
Channelnot part of overall7/9 · Good
0 failed4 poor6 fair9 excellent

Elevation

Side view, colored by inspection rating
CAR · 15 FT25 FT ACROSS25 FT0ELEVATION · LENGTHS TO SCALE
Culvert 6/9

A culvert 25 ft across with 2 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.

Built1931rebuilt 1993
Length25.3 ft7.7 m
Daily traffic9,149counted 2020
Last inspectedMarch 2024every 24 months

Location

StateTexas
CountyJim Wells
Location2.0 Mi N Of FM 2044
CarriesUS 281
CrossesPalo Creek
Coordinates27.87649, -98.08655

Physical Characteristics

MaterialConcrete
DesignCulvert
Total Length25.3 ft (7.7 m)
Max Span9.8 ft (3 m)
Deck Width165.7 ft (50.5 m)
Deck Area388.9 sq m
Main Spans2
Year Built1931 (reconstructed 1993)

Traffic

Avg Daily Traffic9,149 (2020)
Truck Traffic34%
Lanes On Bridge4

Inspection & Ownership

Last InspectionMarch 2024
Inspection FrequencyEvery 24 months
OwnerState Highway Agency
Historical SignificanceBridge is possibly eligible (requires evaluation)
Scour Critical8 — Stable, low risk
Structure Number161260025403024

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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