SH 53 over Possum Creek
Bell County, Texas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SH 53 over Possum Creek in Bell County, Texas, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the culvert, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1961, making it 64 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 4,417 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 296 of the 654 inventoried bridges in Bell County rated fair (45.3%); 1 (0.2%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated February 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (31.0469, -97.17205)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culvert | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete culvert |
| Length | about 42 ft |
| Location | 0.44 Mi W of FM 437 |
| NBI structure number | 090140023201026 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Texas department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Bell County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ih 35 over Skinner Branch | 2017 | 146,391 | Good |
| Ih 35 Ml over Lampasas River | 2016 | 93,724 | Fair |
| Ih 35 over Mitchell Branch | 2017 | 93,724 | Good |
| US 190 Ebml over Rosewood Drive | 2022 | 89,400 | Good |
| US 190 Wbml over Rosewood Drive | 2022 | 89,400 | Good |
| Ih 35 Ml & Fr over Bird Creek | 2017 | 88,889 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Bell County, TX bridge conditions · every bridge in Bell County · Texas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.