Scour Critical Bridges in Kansas
638 bridges in Kansas 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 638 bridges in Kansas have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HACKBERRY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO LYON CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO DOYLE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 40 |
| TURKEY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO MIDDLE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO ROCK CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 40 |
| COAL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 40 |
| COAL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 40 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1972 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 40 |
| LITTLE COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 40 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 40 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 40 |
| DRY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 40 |
| CROOKED CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 2003 | 40 |
| TRIB. TO MARMATON RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1923 | 37 |
| LITTLE MULE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1990 | 35 |
| MARMATON RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 35 |
| MOORES BRANCH CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1963 | 35 |
| TRIB. MOORES BR. CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 35 |
| LITTLE WALNUT RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 35 |
| HARRISON CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 35 |
| CHAPMAN CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1977 | 35 |
| BIG CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 35 |
| EIGHT MILE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 35 |
| APPANOOSE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 35 |
| WOLF CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 35 |
| WEST LIMESTONE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2013 | 35 |
| TRIB. TO LIMESTONE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 35 |
| TRIB. TO HERMES CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2013 | 35 |
| TRIB. TO BUFFALO CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2003 | 35 |
| TRIB. TO REPUBLICAN RIV. | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1999 | 35 |
| SPILLMAN CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 35 |
| PRAIRIE DOG CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1969 | 35 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1983 | 35 |
| PIPE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 35 |
| PLUM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1999 | 35 |
| JIM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 34 |
| TRIB. VERDIGRIS RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 33 |
| TRIB SPRING CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 33 |
| TRIB. E. BR. FALL RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 32 |
| SLOUGH CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 31 |
| WEST DRY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 31 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 30 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 30 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 30 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO SAND CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 30 |
| LITTLE ELM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1970 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO NEGRO CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1985 | 30 |
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.