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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TROUT CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 1,896 |
| RIDLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1922 | 1,886 |
| MIDDLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 1,873 |
| CATS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 1,872 |
| OVER TEMPLE RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 1,840 |
| ALDER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,834 |
| VALLEY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1867 | 1,831 |
| TROUT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 1,800 |
| OUTLET REINING POND | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 1,778 |
| EAST BRANCH RED CLAY CR. | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 1,777 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1950 | 1,763 |
| S BR CODORUS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1910 | 1,760 |
| MILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1928 | 1,733 |
| BONNIE BROOK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 1,727 |
| PERKIOMEN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1909 | 1,723 |
| MONROE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1931 | 1,695 |
| BEAVER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1966 | 1,690 |
| FISHING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 1,687 |
| OVER BUTCHERY RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,686 |
| CONEWAGO CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 1,685 |
| TRIB TO IRONSTONE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1934 | 1,675 |
| TRIB.TO CROSSKILL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1958 | 1,673 |
| LAUREL RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 1,665 |
| UNAMI CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1929 | 1,665 |
| FRENCH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1837 | 1,662 |
| OVER SOUTH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1953 | 1,658 |
| SPRUCE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 1,651 |
| TRIB. TO MUDDY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1955 | 1,648 |
| RAVERS RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1929 | 1,645 |
| EAST BR.WHITE CLAY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1912 | 1,642 |
| SWITZER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 1,641 |
| BRANCH BALD EAGLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 1,640 |
| BRANCH BALD EAGLE CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 1,640 |
| MARTIN CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1961 | 1,639 |
| NORTH BR CALKINS CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 1,638 |
| Pine Run | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 1,637 |
| CULBERTSON RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 1,635 |
| ROCK RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1966 | 1,632 |
| LACKAWANNA RIVER | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1969 | 1,632 |
| PERKIOMEN CREEK 2804H07 | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1933 | 1,628 |
| SWAMP CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1954 | 1,619 |
| TRIB. TO BRUSH CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1982 | 1,600 |
| OVER SANDY CREEK TRIB | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 1,592 |
| OVER PRATHER RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1926 | 1,581 |
| APPENZELL CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 1,576 |
| ALLEGHENY CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1937 | 1,574 |
| SALT RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1942 | 1,571 |
| HOFFER CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1928 | 1,568 |
| GADDES RUN | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1885 | 1,567 |
| WYOMISSING CREEK | Pennsylvania | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 1,556 |
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.