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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 2,200 |
| TOBY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1989 | 2,171 |
| MUCKINIPATTIS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 2,166 |
| BULGERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 2,165 |
| SWAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 2,159 |
| BORGER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 2,158 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 2,148 |
| OVER MUD RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 2,144 |
| BIG RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1931 | 2,136 |
| TRIB.TO SUSQUEHANNA RIVE | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 2,120 |
| COAL LICK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 2,100 |
| TRIB.TO SPRING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 2,087 |
| KRATZER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 2,084 |
| BODINES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1936 | 2,080 |
| CANAWACTA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1925 | 2,079 |
| GREEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 2,079 |
| NESCOPECK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 2,077 |
| NORTH FORK OF BENS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 2,072 |
| CONOY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 2,070 |
| ELK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 2,068 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1951 | 2,064 |
| TRIB WEST BR TOMJACK CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1900 | 2,064 |
| WEST BRANCH TOMJACK CRK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 2,064 |
| TRIB. ONTELAUNEE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 2,062 |
| LITTLE MUNCY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 2,058 |
| IRON HOLLOW RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1921 | 2,049 |
| BROAD RUN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 2,049 |
| OVER DELMATER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1917 | 2,040 |
| BRUBAKER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2004 | 2,035 |
| TRIB. TO HOSENSACK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1934 | 2,035 |
| YELLOW BREECHES CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 2,031 |
| SWATARA CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 2,019 |
| BIG SEWICKLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1827 | 2,000 |
| Trout Creek | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1999 | 2,000 |
| MARSH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 2,000 |
| LETORT SPRING RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 2,000 |
| HAYMAKER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1988 | 2,000 |
| IRONWORKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 1,999 |
| THOMPSON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1906 | 1,997 |
| MARSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1939 | 1,995 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1916 | 1,979 |
| SALT LICK CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 1,975 |
| TRIB. TO LYON CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,946 |
| APPENZELL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 1,943 |
| COOKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1924 | 1,932 |
| BRANCH COOKS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1927 | 1,932 |
| MARSH RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1961 | 1,900 |
| MOUNTS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 1,900 |
| SILVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 1,900 |
| W. BR. BRANDYWINE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 1,897 |
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.