Scour Critical Bridges in Rhode Island

94 bridges in Rhode Island 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 94 bridges in Rhode Island have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.

Clear

Bridge	State	Scour Status	Condition	Year Built	ADT
MCGOWAN BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective	Good	2022	4,260
SEEKONK RVR & STS	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1930	120,000
CROOKFALL BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1924	58,520
WEST PASSAGE NARRA BAY	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1992	33,100
HUNT RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1930	25,883
PROVIDENCE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1927	23,254
MT HP BY N SEC RR 114 LP	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1929	18,924
WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1920	16,893
BRANCH RVR & JOSLIN RD	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1967	15,976
FURNACE HILL BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1957	15,930
GREENVILLE BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1929	15,861
MILL CANAL	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1918	15,715
POCASSET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	2019	15,500
WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1994	15,175
BRANCH RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1919	15,100
SEEKONK RVR TAFT S	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1877	14,948
TEN MILE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1921	14,747
BLACKSTONE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1915	14,500
BLACKSTONE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1979	13,800
PAWCATUCK RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1974	13,100
POCASSET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1925	12,700
BLACKSTONE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1928	12,626
PETERS RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1926	12,300
EAST BRANCH SNEECH BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1926	11,938
HEMLOCK BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1926	11,806
PETTAQUAMSCUTT RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1934	10,491
TEN MILE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1946	10,151
PAWTUXET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	10,149
SAUGATUCKET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1920	10,107
BLACKSTONE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1910	9,999
MOSHASSUCK RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1967	9,765
USQUEPAUG RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1931	9,628
WOOD RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1923	9,567
BRUSHY BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1922	9,567
STILLWATER RESERVOIR	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1932	9,419
HUNT RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1964	8,000
PAWTUXET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1956	7,979
MOSHASSUCK RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1916	7,957
WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1979	7,850
BLACKSTONE RVR P&W BP	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	2021	7,800
WEST RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Good	1894	7,777
TEN MILE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1926	7,250
ABBOTT RUN	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1962	6,921
PETERS RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1900	6,592
PROVIDENCE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Poor	1996	6,500
PAWCATUCK RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1930	6,243
MOSHASSUCK RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1887	6,200
FURNACE HILL BROOK	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	2000	5,919
CHEPACHET RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1920	5,800
PROVIDENCE RIVER	Rhode Island	Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed	Fair	1994	5,684

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.

All Bridges Poor Condition Historic Bridges Bridge Stats