SH 71 over Tres Palacios River
Wharton County, Texas · rated Good in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- SH 71 over Tres Palacios River in Wharton County, Texas, is rated in good condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 7 (good condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 2015, making it 10 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 9,928 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2021).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 204 of the 373 inventoried bridges in Wharton County rated good (54.7%); 21 (5.6%) 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 January 2023, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A good rating means every major component - deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert - is rated 7 or higher on FHWA's 0-9 scale: no more than minor problems.
View this bridge on a map → (29.18842, -96.26309)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 7 | Good condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete slab |
| Length | about 140 ft |
| Location | 0.25 Mi NW OF FM 653 |
| NBI structure number | 132410026606192 |
| Condition class | Good |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | January 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 Wharton County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 59 SB over SH 60 (bu 59 R) & Kcs RR | 2023 | 29,743 | Good |
| US 59 over Draw | 2022 | 29,743 | Good |
| US 59 Sbfr over Draw | 2022 | 29,743 | Good |
| US 59 Sbfr over Draw | 2022 | 29,743 | Good |
| US 59 over Draw | 1976 | 28,133 | Good |
| US 59 over Preisler Creek | 2024 | 27,270 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Wharton County, TX bridge conditions · every bridge in Wharton County · Texas bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.