Scour Critical Bridges
23,522 bridges across the US 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 23,522 bridges have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILLSTONE RIVER | New Jersey | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 12,700 |
| VALENCIANO RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 12,700 |
| LITTLE OTTER CREEK | Vermont | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 12,700 |
| SOUTH BR OF CONEWAGO | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 12,695 |
| Willamette River | Oregon | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1913 | 12,687 |
| Willamette River | Oregon | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1964 | 12,687 |
| SWARTZ CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1938 | 12,678 |
| KAELEPULU STREAM | Hawaii | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 12,657 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 12,654 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Tennessee | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1977 | 12,654 |
| LITTLE WHITE LICK CREEK | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 12,652 |
| SWARTZ CREEK | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 12,640 |
| WATER FRENCH RIVER | Massachusetts | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1868 | 12,630 |
| BLACKSTONE RIVER | Rhode Island | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 12,626 |
| WILLOW CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 12,614 |
| BIG BROOK | New Jersey | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 12,608 |
| S. FORK MIDDLE RIVER | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 12,600 |
| LULU CREEK | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 12,600 |
| Little River Canal | Florida | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1970 | 12,600 |
| SAN JOAQUIN RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1959 | 12,585 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Texas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1985 | 12,556 |
| SILVER CREEK | Oregon | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 12,536 |
| LODAL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 12,530 |
| SANTA ANA RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 12,519 |
| NORTH CR & GILLMAN TRAIL | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1960 | 12,517 |
| NORTH CR & GILLMAN TRAIL | Washington | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1967 | 12,517 |
| REPUBLICAN RIVER | Kansas | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1993 | 12,505 |
| BLACKFOOT RIVER | Idaho | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 12,500 |
| BAYAMON RIVER | Puerto Rico | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 12,500 |
| AUBURN RAVINE | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1923 | 12,500 |
| HUTTO CREEK | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 12,500 |
| BLACKFOOT RIVER | Idaho | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 12,500 |
| WHITE RIVER | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 12,500 |
| CHESTER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1946 | 12,485 |
| MARTINDALE DITCH | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 12,481 |
| MARTINDALE DITCH | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 12,481 |
| CATASAUQUA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1947 | 12,475 |
| PATOKA RIVER | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1957 | 12,449 |
| PIGEON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 12,416 |
| TOQUOP WASH | Nevada | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1954 | 12,400 |
| LAWSON FORK CREEK | South Carolina | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 12,400 |
| TOQUOP WASH | Nevada | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 12,400 |
| CREEK | Oklahoma | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1960 | 12,400 |
| WABASH RIVER N CROSSING | Indiana | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1988 | 12,389 |
| QUASSIAC CREEK | New York | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1973 | 12,339 |
| LOWRIES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1914 | 12,322 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 12,310 |
| GRAND RIVER | Michigan | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 12,310 |
| CROSSWICKS CREEK | New Jersey | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1941 | 12,309 |
| PANTHER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 12,303 |
Scour Critical Bridges by State
States ranked by number of scour critical bridges.
| State | Scour Critical | Unaddressed | Countermeasures | Ineffective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,912 | 75 | 516 | 3,321 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,233 | 45 | 2,187 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1,302 | 13 | 1,288 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1,263 | 0 | 1,217 | 46 |
| Oregon | 1,231 | 4 | 1,221 | 6 |
| Michigan | 1,081 | 14 | 1,062 | 5 |
| Nebraska | 962 | 224 | 732 | 6 |
| New York | 864 | 9 | 780 | 75 |
| Indiana | 756 | 7 | 749 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 751 | 0 | 748 | 3 |
| Kansas | 638 | 9 | 626 | 3 |
| California | 623 | 27 | 562 | 34 |
| Tennessee | 581 | 12 | 569 | 0 |
| Washington | 516 | 14 | 487 | 15 |
| Puerto Rico | 496 | 9 | 487 | 0 |
| Alabama | 450 | 1 | 423 | 26 |
| Iowa | 392 | 3 | 385 | 4 |
| New Jersey | 362 | 2 | 360 | 0 |
| Florida | 357 | 4 | 339 | 14 |
| Oklahoma | 317 | 33 | 283 | 1 |
| Missouri | 312 | 4 | 307 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 301 | 6 | 286 | 9 |
| Connecticut | 279 | 0 | 276 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 257 | 38 | 202 | 17 |
| Vermont | 242 | 0 | 240 | 2 |
| Colorado | 241 | 3 | 238 | 0 |
| Idaho | 215 | 18 | 186 | 11 |
| South Dakota | 207 | 3 | 203 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 187 | 3 | 129 | 55 |
| Massachusetts | 166 | 15 | 106 | 45 |
| Montana | 166 | 13 | 140 | 13 |
| Arizona | 164 | 2 | 160 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 160 | 2 | 98 | 60 |
| Alaska | 159 | 1 | 146 | 12 |
| Maine | 140 | 13 | 126 | 1 |
| North Carolina | 130 | 9 | 105 | 16 |
| New Mexico | 127 | 4 | 114 | 9 |
| North Dakota | 102 | 14 | 87 | 1 |
| Utah | 100 | 6 | 82 | 12 |
| Georgia | 99 | 1 | 81 | 17 |
| Illinois | 99 | 3 | 85 | 11 |
| Nevada | 94 | 0 | 85 | 9 |
| Rhode Island | 94 | 0 | 93 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 86 | 2 | 78 | 6 |
| Hawaii | 83 | 0 | 82 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 56 | 16 | 39 | 1 |
| Maryland | 54 | 1 | 51 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 51 | 1 | 48 | 2 |
| Delaware | 39 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Ohio | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Virginia | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
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.