Higher Risk Bridges Program

The Higher Risk Bridges Program is a subprogram of the BSSP that addresses those structures that have:
  • Documented scour risks
  • Narrow Deck –
    26
    -ft or less in width (inside rail to inside rail) for two-way structures
  • Steel or timber piling with advanced section loss
  • Unprotected 2 column bents
Eligibility Requirements
  • On-
    s
    ystem
    . The Higher Risk Bridges Program will only fund the replacement or rehabilitation of on-system, TxDOT owned bridges. Bridges that are a part of a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA) or other non-state funded projects are not eligible.
  • Not eligible for HBP
    . The Higher Risk Bridges Program will focus on addressing safety issues on On-system structures that are not currently eligible for replacement through the Highway Bridge Program criteria.
  • General Condition ratings >4. The deck/superstructure/substructure/culvert ratings must be greater than 4.
Structures must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible:
  • Structures with small diameter columns (33-inch diameter or less), that are exposed to truck traffic or railroad traffic without a crash protection system.
  • Structures with substructure elements in the channel of a streambed, where the average span length of the structure is less than 50 ft. These structures must also have either documented scour that substantially affects the load carrying capacity or documented debris buildup during or immediately following two or more flood events.
  • Structures that are
    Scour Critical
    .
  • Narrow Structures.
    A narrow structure is defined as a structure with Bridge Roadway Width (Item 51 from TxDOT Coding Guide) measuring 26-ft or less
    .
  • The Bridge Division will prioritize candidate narrow structures based on
    • Deck Width
    • AADT
    • % Trucks
  • Structures on the NHS that are Sub-Standard for Load Only (SSLO), meaning the bridge has good condition scores but has a load restriction.
  • Direct connectors or locally owned structures over On-system facilities are not eligible for BSSP regardless of width.