The Houston Avenue Bridge in Houston recorded 72 vehicle strikes in 2025, according to Texas Department of Transportation records.
Damage from these incidents has exceeded $400,000 and has triggered repeated traffic shutdowns on Interstate 10 for inspection and clearance.
The bridge has a clearance of 14 feet, 3 inches, which requires special permits for taller loads. Many collisions involved trucks with oversized cargo that either failed to secure permits or traveled outside approved routes.
Three detection systems have been installed to warn operators of oversized loads approaching the bridge, although some drivers still ignore the alerts.
TxDOT engineers rated the bridge clearance at 2 on a scale of 1 to 9, classifying it as “intolerable.” Despite the rating, engineers have confirmed that the structure remains sound.
The bridge is scheduled for demolition under the White Oak Bayou I-10 elevation project, set to begin in early 2027. The project will raise sections of Interstate 10 above the floodplain and rebuild infrastructure in the corridor, including the Houston Avenue Bridge, to address both flooding and clearance issues.
Bridge strikes this year were recorded on October 5, September 8, and May 6. Each strike prompted immediate inspection and a minimum shutdown time of two hours to verify structural integrity.
The forthcoming reconstruction is expected to eliminate the clearance risk tied to the current bridge design.