Scour Critical Bridges in Wisconsin
751 bridges in Wisconsin 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 751 bridges in Wisconsin have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE ELK RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1950 | 472 |
| LA CROSSE RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2021 | 200 |
| SQUAW CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2020 | 103 |
| WISCONSIN RIVER 31 | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1915 | 28,144 |
| BONGERS CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 20,705 |
| KINNICKINNICK RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1987 | 19,025 |
| LINCOLN CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1936 | 13,774 |
| BARK RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 10,200 |
| DUNCAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 9,920 |
| SPRING BROOK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 9,900 |
| MULLET RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1976 | 9,800 |
| KELLY BROOK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 8,600 |
| SPRING BROOK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 8,300 |
| MEADOWS CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 8,200 |
| LRD CROSS & 2ND ST -MISS | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 7,750 |
| EIGHT MILE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 7,500 |
| WHITTLESEY CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 7,500 |
| CARTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 7,100 |
| BR SORENSONS CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1948 | 6,700 |
| ONION RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1961 | 6,500 |
| KINNICKINNIC RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 6,113 |
| FOX RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 6,100 |
| DUCK CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1975 | 5,900 |
| SOUTHWICK CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 5,900 |
| SPRING CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 5,900 |
| BRANCH APPLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1997 | 5,800 |
| MACKVILLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 5,757 |
| MUD CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,500 |
| PRATT CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 5,400 |
| BR DUTCH GAP CANAL | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 5,200 |
| BLACK OTTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1892 | 5,151 |
| MARSHY CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,100 |
| MOSHER CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 5,100 |
| MILWAUKEE RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 5,100 |
| OCONOMOWOC RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 4,664 |
| BARK RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 4,600 |
| JEFFERSON DITCH | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1998 | 4,600 |
| WEBSTER CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 4,500 |
| YAHARA RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 4,450 |
| BR ROOT RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 4,300 |
| BROCKWAY CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 4,200 |
| QUADERERS CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1915 | 4,200 |
| ONION RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 4,100 |
| SHEBOYGAN RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 4,050 |
| BAY CITY CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 3,909 |
| LAKESIDE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 3,900 |
| W BR FOND DU LAC RIVER | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1965 | 3,900 |
| SWAN CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 3,900 |
| LAKESIDE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 3,900 |
| MOLE CREEK | Wisconsin | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2015 | 3,800 |
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.