FM 521 over Cedar Lake Creek
Matagorda County, Texas · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- FM 521 over Cedar Lake Creek in Matagorda County, Texas, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1959, making it 66 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 3,689 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 106 of the 192 inventoried bridges in Matagorda County rated fair (55.2%); 12 (6.2%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (fair), but component ratings moved: substructure 5 to 7.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated December 2024, 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 → (28.96468, -95.69047)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 121 ft |
| Location | 3.20 Mi NE of FM 457 |
| NBI structure number | 131580084701014 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | December 2024 |
| 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 Matagorda County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| SH 35 over Bucks Bayou | 1997 | 23,967 | Good |
| SH 35 over Cottonwood Creek | 1929 | 14,932 | Fair |
| SH 35 over East River Canal | 1961 | 14,897 | Good |
| SH 35 over Hardeman Slough | 2001 | 13,245 | Good |
| SH 35 over Caney Creek | 2001 | 13,245 | Good |
| SH 35 NB over West Canal | 1961 | 12,498 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Matagorda County, TX bridge conditions · every bridge in Matagorda County · Texas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.