Scour Critical Bridges in New Hampshire

86 bridges in New Hampshire 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 86 bridges in New Hampshire have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear
Bridge State Scour Status Condition Year Built ADT
LAMPREY RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1914 547
STEARNS BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Unaddressed Poor 1950 96
SO. BR. GALE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2011 99
SCARFACE BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2011 99
COLD BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2006 99
N.BR. GALE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1971 50
E.BR. MILL BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Fair 1982 50
SO. BR. GALE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective Good 2011 50
MERRIMACK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1959 25,855
MERRIMACK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1959 25,801
CONNECTICUT RIVER NECRR New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1966 22,288
CONNECTICUT RIVER NECRR New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1966 21,268
MERRIMACK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1970 17,275
CONTOOCOOK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1961 17,117
ISINGLASS RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1951 14,407
HAMPTON RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1949 9,402
SOUCOOK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1936 8,465
AMMONOOSUC RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1950 7,962
ELLIS RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1938 6,773
BEAVER BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1920 6,622
MILL BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1928 6,478
SOUHEGAN RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1917 6,406
SALMON FALLS RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1950 6,132
BEAVER BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1900 6,111
N BRANCH RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1988 5,929
CLARKS RR PEMIGEWASSET R New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1973 5,785
CONTOOCOOK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1942 5,773
CLARKS RR PEMIGEWASSET R New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1981 5,456
AMMONOOSUC RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1972 5,178
PEABODY RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1950 4,148
OSSIPEE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1956 3,594
SOUHEGAN RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1987 3,589
WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1982 3,412
E BR PEMIGEWASSET RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1938 3,107
PISCATAQUA ESTUARY New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1955 3,041
SWIFT RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1975 2,900
MAD RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1979 2,828
PEMIGEWASSET RIVER NHRR New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1937 2,666
LAMPREY RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1932 2,642
CONTOOCOOK RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1981 2,615
WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1988 2,602
COHAS BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1900 2,560
COCHECO RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1978 2,189
AMEY BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1938 1,984
ASHUELOT RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1940 1,937
PEMIGEWASSET RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Poor 1928 1,917
BERRY BROOK New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Good 1986 1,673
SUGAR RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1959 1,345
CONNECTICUT RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1931 1,342
ASHUELOT RIVER New Hampshire Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed Fair 1976 1,336

Scour Critical Rating Codes

Code 2 — UnaddressedBridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken.
Code 3 — Countermeasures InstalledProtective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical.
Code 6 — Countermeasures IneffectiveProtective 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.