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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHERRY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 30 |
| SLATE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1987 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO BIG WALNUT CK. | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 30 |
| COX CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 30 |
| SALINE RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 30 |
| PLUM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 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 |
| TRIB. TO LIMESTONE CK. | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO POLE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 30 |
| TRIB. MARAIS DES CYGNES | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1918 | 30 |
| EAST ASHER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 30 |
| LITTLE JOHN CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 30 |
| GREGG CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO NEOSHO RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 30 |
| FOUR MILE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 30 |
| SOUTH FORK WALNUT CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1996 | 30 |
| SAPPA CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 30 |
| NORTH FORK SOLOMON RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 30 |
| COAL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1995 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO COAL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 30 |
| COAL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 30 |
| BUCKEYE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO PAWNEE RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 30 |
| DEER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 30 |
| DEER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 30 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1986 | 30 |
| PLUM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 30 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 30 |
| LITTLE ARKANSAS RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1996 | 30 |
| EAST CEDAR CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1980 | 30 |
| MIDDLE BEAVER CREEK TRIB | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1962 | 30 |
| NORTH FORK SOLOMON RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 30 |
| TRIB. TO CHIKASKIA RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 30 |
| DOWNER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1964 | 30 |
| WEST CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1952 | 26 |
| SPRING CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 25 |
| TRIB. LITTLE OSAGE RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 25 |
| PAW PAW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 25 |
| HARD FISH CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1946 | 25 |
| INATHA CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 25 |
| NORWAY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1993 | 25 |
| Buffalo Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2002 | 25 |
| WEST MARSH CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1997 | 25 |
| LONG BRANCH | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 25 |
| CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 25 |
| COW CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2001 | 25 |
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.