Scour Critical Bridges in Connecticut
279 bridges in Connecticut at risk from water erosion around foundations.
Scour Critical Bridges
Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 279 bridges in Connecticut have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PODUNK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 7,000 |
| HUNGARY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 970 |
| POOTATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 750 |
| I-95 RMP 047/FIVE MI RIV | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 136,600 |
| MATTABESSET RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 99,500 |
| RIPPOWAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 73,120 |
| WEPAWAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 68,300 |
| CONVERSE POND BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 53,800 |
| ROARING BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 50,400 |
| MATTABESSET RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 49,200 |
| YANTIC RIVER NEC RR | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 37,800 |
| QUINNIPIAC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 35,800 |
| QUINNIPIAC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1946 | 33,700 |
| FARMINGTON RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 26,100 |
| WEST RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 23,100 |
| FIVE MILE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1850 | 21,900 |
| QUINNIPIAC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 19,400 |
| YANTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 19,000 |
| NORWALK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 18,800 |
| STILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 18,500 |
| WEST RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 17,600 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 17,200 |
| MEANS BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 16,400 |
| PAWCATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 16,400 |
| BRANFORD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 16,300 |
| STILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 16,000 |
| WEST BRANCH TROUT BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1901 | 15,660 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 14,800 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 14,600 |
| RIPPOWAM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 14,220 |
| BOGGS POND BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1911 | 13,740 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 13,700 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 13,700 |
| FARM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 12,200 |
| HOCKANUM RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1983 | 12,100 |
| EIGHT MILE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 11,800 |
| STONEY BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1986 | 11,800 |
| SAW MILL BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 11,800 |
| STILL RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 11,320 |
| FOUR MILE BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 11,100 |
| MYSTIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 11,000 |
| MUDDY RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 10,800 |
| NEPAUG RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 10,800 |
| MAD RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 10,400 |
| PADANARAM BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1899 | 10,334 |
| NAUGATUCK RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 9,900 |
| BURLINGTON BROOK | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 9,800 |
| MATTABESSET RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 9,700 |
| HOUSATONIC RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1918 | 9,500 |
| LITTLE RIVER | Connecticut | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 9,100 |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action. |
About Scour Critical Bridges
Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.