Houston-area bridges in need of repair

The Yale Street bridge, south of I-10

Year built: 1931 Owned by: Municipality



This bridge is eligible for historical designation, but is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet modern design standards. The bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2016, transportation writer Dug Begley reports at HoustonChronicle.com. : MunicipalityThis bridge is eligible for historical designation, but is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet modern design standards. The bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2016,at HoustonChronicle.com. less The Yale Street bridge, south of I-10

Year built: 1931 Owned by: Municipality



This bridge is eligible for historical designation, but is functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet modern design standards. The ... more Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Houston-area bridges in need of repair 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

The Houston area is full of bridges that need a little TLC. But as it is with most types of infrastructure, from road potholes to drainage, repairs come slowly and sometimes not at all.

The Texas Department of Transportation maintains a list of all bridges in the state that are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Neither categorization renders the bridge unsafe to drive on, although some may have load limits, TxDOT spokesman Nick Wade said Friday.

"The term 'structurally deficient' is one of the terms used by the Federal Highway Administration to designate bridges eligible for federal funding," Wade said, adding that the repair needs listed in the slideshow above are routine maintenance issues that do not pose a safety risk.

"Through regular inspection, TxDOT identifies unsafe conditions and closes unsafe bridges," according to the agency's website.

A bridge that floods frequently could also be listed as structurally deficient.

The phrase "functionally obsolete," another term used to designate bridges for federal funding, means that the bridge was built using federal design standards that are no longer in practice.

Bridges around the area may be owned by the state, the county, the city or some other entity. When a bridge becomes eligible for federal funding, TxDOT notifies the owner of the bridge.

"When a structural problem is discovered, three option are considered: (1) post reduced weight limits that restrict the gross weight of vehicles using the bridge; (2) perform maintenance on the bridge to repair the damage; and/or (3) if necessary, repair or rehab the bridge through the Highway Bridge Program administered by TxDOT," Wade said.

Click through the slideshow above to see some of the Houston area bridges labeled structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and search the database to find other bridges that need repair in your area.

Data on the status of Houston area bridges was obtained from TxDOT, and further information on bridge construction and inspection reports was gathered from UglyBridges.com, which uses data from the National Bridge Inventory.