Scour Critical Bridges in New Mexico
127 bridges in New Mexico 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 127 bridges in New Mexico have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COYOTE CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1935 | 166 |
| STORM DRAINAGE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Good | 2016 | 50 |
| STORM DRAINAGE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Fair | 2015 | 50 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1943 | 5 |
| RED WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1960 | 4,813 |
| Unnamed arroyo | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,464 |
| Unnamed arroyo | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,464 |
| Unnamed arroyo | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,464 |
| Unnamed arroyo | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,464 |
| SAND SPRING CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1936 | 272 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2022 | 10 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1943 | 5 |
| UNKNOWN CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Poor | 1943 | 5 |
| RIO DEL OSO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 11,253 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 9,647 |
| RIO HONDO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 8,558 |
| Las Huertas Creek | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1975 | 7,686 |
| GALLINAS RIVER | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1909 | 6,684 |
| TIJERAS CANYON | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 6,431 |
| RATTLESNAKE WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 4,813 |
| SALT CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 4,224 |
| EAGLE DRAW | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 3,419 |
| RIO PUERCO OF THE WEST | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1980 | 3,004 |
| HUNTER WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1984 | 2,653 |
| ARROYO DEL PUERTO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 2,527 |
| JONES ARROYO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 2,303 |
| BOHANAN ARROYO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 1,384 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 1,358 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 1,310 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 1,212 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 1,168 |
| EL RITO CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 1,165 |
| TORREON WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 1,159 |
| ARROYO HONDO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 1,132 |
| CANADIAN RIVER | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,111 |
| RIO GRANDE | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 924 |
| UNNAMED WATERWAY | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 819 |
| ESCAVADA WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 681 |
| NASCHITTI WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 681 |
| COX CANYON | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1979 | 681 |
| IRRIGATION DITCH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1966 | 681 |
| Cameron Creek | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2022 | 679 |
| KING CANYON | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1933 | 521 |
| SECO CREEK | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 521 |
| RIO MORA | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 492 |
| RIO RUIDOSO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2009 | 347 |
| RIO RUIDOSO | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 345 |
| Rio Puerco | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 339 |
| NOSE ROCK WASH | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1977 | 337 |
| Rio Ruidoso | New Mexico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 337 |
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.