Scour Critical Bridges in Pennsylvania
2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania 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 2,233 bridges in Pennsylvania have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FADES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 4,241 |
| QUAKAKE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1927 | 4,225 |
| KENT RUN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 4,215 |
| ROCK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 4,201 |
| OVER HATCH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1953 | 4,181 |
| EVITTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 4,176 |
| CLEAR SHADE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,173 |
| STAMENS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1939 | 4,157 |
| OVER JOHNSTON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 4,143 |
| OVER ALDER BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 4,139 |
| PINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1915 | 4,130 |
| TURTLE CREEK BRANCH | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 4,122 |
| TRIB.TO LITTLE FISHING C | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 4,104 |
| TRIB NO BR MAHANTANGO CR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,066 |
| HUNLOCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 4,044 |
| N BR BERMUDIAN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 4,044 |
| DARBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 4,029 |
| SAW MILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 4,000 |
| SAWMILL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 4,000 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1957 | 3,993 |
| SYCAMORE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 3,974 |
| ELDER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 3,972 |
| QUITTAPAHILLA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1967 | 3,968 |
| BUCK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1932 | 3,958 |
| TRIB DELAWARE RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 3,958 |
| DYERS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 3,958 |
| HOUGHS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 3,958 |
| DELAWARE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 3,956 |
| DELAWARE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 3,956 |
| EAST BR BRANDYWINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 3,954 |
| MAIDEN CREEK TRIBUTARY | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 3,933 |
| MAIDEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 3,933 |
| TRIB MILLER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 3,897 |
| OVER SHENANGO RIVER N BR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 3,887 |
| CHESTER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1933 | 3,875 |
| HOUGHS CREEK / 3038-J5 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 3,839 |
| DELAWARE CANAL/3151-F2 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 3,837 |
| RAYSTOWN BR.JUNIATA RIV. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 3,829 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1905 | 3,809 |
| EAST BR BRANDYWINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 3,807 |
| BLACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 3,799 |
| OVER FRENCH CREEK E BR | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 3,791 |
| TRIB TO CONEMAUGH RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 3,779 |
| W BR BRANDYWINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 3,775 |
| OVER SWAMP RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 3,762 |
| GORDONS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 3,757 |
| INLET TO SNAG POND | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 3,742 |
| MCLAUGHLIN RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1900 | 3,740 |
| TRIB TO ROARING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 3,739 |
| SCHLEGEL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 3,711 |
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.