Scour Critical Bridges in North Carolina

130 bridges in North Carolina 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 130 bridges in North Carolina have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
NEWBERRY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1953	30
NEALS CR.	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1954	25
SOUTH TOE RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Fair	1962	25
SOUTH TOE RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1950	20
COURTHOUSE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1939	10
WHIPPING CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1965	5
MUDDY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Good	1975	2
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1960	1
PINEY BOTTOM CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Unaddressed	Poor	1960	1
SUGAR CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	1960	25,000
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	10
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1970	10
HOURSE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1960	1
BONES CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1960	1
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2015	1
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
SILVER RUN	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
FLAT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
FISHROCK CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
CALF BRANCH	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
ROCKFISH CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
MCPHERSON CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Fair	1960	1
BONES CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
JUMIPER CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Poor	1960	1
SWIFT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	41,000
SWIFT CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	41,000
LYLE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	36,500
BUFFALO CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	32,250
BUFFALO CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1973	32,250
MCALPINE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1979	32,000
FRENCH BROAD RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	27,000
INTRACOASTAL W/W	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1956	22,500
CATAWBA RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1961	20,500
LYLE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1957	18,250
TAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	18,000
TOISNOT SWAMP	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1977	18,000
TOISNOT SWAMP	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1977	18,000
TAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	18,000
STONEY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1966	16,250
TROUBLESOME CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1968	14,750
STONEY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1960	14,500
NEW HOPE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1979	14,500
LITTLE NORTHEAST	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1994	14,500
STONEY CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	14,500
LITTLE CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1979	13,000
NEUSE RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1961	13,000
S.FORK CATAWBA RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1955	11,000
TAR RIVER	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	10,750
LOVILLS CREEK	North Carolina	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1977	10,000

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.

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