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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 25 |
| CARR CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1904 | 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 |
| DEVILS CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 25 |
| TRIB. TO POLE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 23 |
| SPRING CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1947 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO DEER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO DEN CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 20 |
| FINNEY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 20 |
| EAST ELM CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1981 | 20 |
| COON CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 20 |
| Brush Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1984 | 20 |
| Honey Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1971 | 20 |
| Scatter Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1984 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO LOVEWELL RES. | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO BUFFALO CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1997 | 20 |
| UNNAMED STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 20 |
| COX SLOUGH | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1921 | 20 |
| STREAM | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 20 |
| SOUTH COTTONWOOD RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 20 |
| SALT CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO E. ASHER CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1955 | 20 |
| CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 20 |
| TRIB. LITTLE CROSS CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1981 | 20 |
| WHITE ROCK CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 20 |
| TRIB. TO MILL CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 20 |
| SALINE RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1966 | 20 |
| MIDDLE CEDAR CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1910 | 20 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 20 |
| SPRING CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1990 | 20 |
| TRIB TO MIDDLE BITTER CR | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 2005 | 20 |
| CHIKASKIA RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 20 |
| WEST DRY CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 16 |
| DODDS CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1948 | 15 |
| SAND CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 15 |
| PRAIRIE DOG CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 15 |
| HOLLAND CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 15 |
| TRIB. TO ROCK CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 15 |
| TRIB. TO SNAKE CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 15 |
| HITCHIN CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 15 |
| TRIB. TO ELK CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 15 |
| Fish Pond Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 15 |
| Little Rock Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1977 | 15 |
| trib. Indian Creek | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 15 |
| BIG CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 15 |
| ELK CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 15 |
| TRIB. TO BUFFALO CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 10 |
| SAND CREEK | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 10 |
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.